This past Sunday, November 22, we celebrated Thanksgiving with our annual dinner — take a look at the pictures!
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thanksgiving dinner pictures
The text of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL on November 22, 2009
This morning’s Bible reading is from John 18:33-37
The Truth
You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. John 8:32
The word “Truth” is in the Bible between 130 and 300 times (depending on which translation you are using.)
That is way more than preach (about a dozen times), way less than love (over 500 times) and about the same as money.
Does that mean that truth is way more important than preaching, way less important than love, and about as important as money?
Some would make that leap. I will not.
So what does that mean? I don’t know. What is truth? Pilate asked the question in the verse right after this morning’s reading. Can we ask the same? What is truth?
Maybe this?
You want answers?
I think I’m entitled to them.
You want answers?
I want the truth!
You can’t handle the truth!
Or this?
The Truth is out there.
I have heard people debate what is truth. I have heard people argue the very nature of the word truth – if it could really exist – if there is absolute truth . . . Re-asking Pilate’s question . . . What is truth?
The numbers game and the endless debate are tiring.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice – says Jesus
Instead of focusing on “What is truth?” Let’s focus on what Jesus said. How do we belong to the truth – how do we listen?
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
Truth isn’t something to possess like a prize or a piece of property.
Truth isn’t something to define or mold or bend.
Truth like that is at best misguided. At worst it is a lie.
Stephen Colbert popularized a new meaning for the word “Truthiness” in 2005. Here’s his definition:
Truth that comes from the gut, not books. Or
The quality of preferring concepts or facts one wishes to be true, rather than concepts of facts known to be true.
“Truthiness” was named as the American Dialect Society’s and Merriam-Webster’s word of the year in 2005 and 2006. And in Colbert’s satiric definition –– truthiness essentially means ‘falseness.’
But true truth, (How could it be anything else, really?!) is something to belong to.
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
The truth is Jesus
- We don’t possess Jesus. We belong to Jesus.
- We don’t make up Jesus. We belong to Jesus.
- We don’t tear up or shred Jesus. We belong to Jesus.
- We don’t define Jesus. We belong to Jesus.
- We don’t handle Jesus. We belong to Jesus.
- We follow Jesus call to live the two rules of loving God and each other. We belong to Jesus.
How do we get past all of the truthiness in our world?
How do we stop confusing truthiness with truth?
A short answer would be
- Quit lying!
- Quit making stuff up!
- Quit pursuing money and power and domination while you’re wrapping yourself with a flag or a cross!
A shorter answer is
Belong to Jesus. Follow Jesus. Love God and each other
Belong to the truth.
Close with prayer.
The text of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL on November 15, 2009
This morning’s Bible reading is from 1 Samuel 4:1-20
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Peninnah
I must admit . . . I don’t like her. Peninnah treated Hannah cruelly. She provoked her just to irritate her. What she did to Hannah was awful, unkind, unconscionable and simply mean. In this week’s reading from 1 Samuel 1:4-20, her cruelty is glaring.
Yes. She was jealous. Elkanah was more generous with Hannah. Peninnah acted out that jealousy. But what she did was bullying. It was cruel and unnecessary.
I am one who seeks to live the phrase, “No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey . . . you’re welcome here,” I also say, and try to live the words, “God loves everyone – not just the people you like or agree with – EVERYONE.”
And I have a real difficult time showing kindness and love for folks who bully, manipulate, exploit, ridicule, and abuse others.
I have a real difficult time showing kindness and love for folks who make up lies, distort what other people say, use fear and hate as weapons, call some of God’s children evil and cruel names, and do it all while calling themselves Christian.
“Why don’t you tell us how you really feel, Kirk?”
Some have looked at the relationship between Peninnah and Hannah and said that Peninnah did what she had to do to keep Hannah praying so that Hannah would have a child.
My single word response to that one isn’t appropriate to say. Let me temper it somewhat.
Balderdash.
There is no justification for bullying, manipulating, exploiting, ridiculing or abusing anyone.
I read the beginning of this Bible passage I get angry at Peninnah.
But – the reading isn’t really about her. There’s more.
Hannah has really upset about not having a baby. Elkanah tried to console her. He didn’t do a great job. “Aren’t I better than 10 sons?” No. Hannah was still deeply distressed. One translation says that she had ‘bitterness of soul.’
And she prayed.
She prayed and prayed and prayed. She promised God that if she had a boy that she would dedicate him as one who would serve God always.
She prayed constantly. She prayed without making noise – but still moving her lips.
Eli the priest thought she was drunk. She wasn’t. She told him why she was praying and he said, “May God grant your request.”
God did.
Hannah had a son named Samuel. He served God. He grew up to be the leader who anointed Saul and David Kings of Israel. Happy Ending.
The Bible doesn’t say that Hannah made snippy comments back to Peninnah. It doesn’t say anything more about Peninnah at all.
I’m going to still hold onto that anger directed at Peninnah – but I’m trying to focus on what Hannah did.
She was upset
She was greatly distressed
She wouldn’t eat
She was miserable
She was anxious
She was vexed.
She wasn’t drunk
And she prayed. She poured out her soul to God.
There is nothing we cannot pour out to God in prayer. God can sift through jumbled thoughts and powerful emotions. God gets our prayers even when we have trouble naming, feeling or even acknowledging what it is we are praying about.
God hears our prayers.
I know that the happy ending Hannah experienced isn’t the way things always happen. Maybe it’s not the way things usually happen. But God does hear our prayers – no conditions.
Trouble forgiving someone? God hears our prayers
Angry? God hears our prayers
Happy? God hears our prayers.
Thinking lightning would strike you if you ever came to church? God hears our prayers.
Scared? God hears our prayers.
Drunk? God hears our prayers.
Made a mistake? God hears our prayers.
Strong? God hears our prayers.
Don’t think you’re good? God hears our prayers.
Grieving? God hears our prayers.
Doubting? God hears our prayers.
Not doing it right? God hears our prayers.
Filled with bitterness? God hears our prayers.
God hears our prayers. Angry, happy, unbelieving, scared, drunk, mistaken, strong, not good, grieving, doubting, not doing it right – even – maybe especially — prayers filled with bitterness of soul.
Amen.
The text of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL on November 8, 2009
This morning’s Bible reading is from Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17
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Functional
According to this week’s Bible reading from Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17, here’s how Ruth’s family functioned:
Find a relative of your dead husband
Follow your mother-in-law’s instructions for what to do to seek security for you and for her.
Attempt to seduce him so that he will marry you
(Not in the reading –but part of the story: Know that he will be a just person who will honor you and who will follow the rules set up by the system.)
Get married
Have a baby
Give the baby to your mother-in-law to care for.
Let the baby be the grandfather of David.
Some of that we would lift up as “The Biblical example” of family . . . get married, have a baby . . .
But the other parts?
Yes. They are Biblical examples of family, too. And Ruth and Naomi’s relationship before Boaz is lifted up as an example of family in a verse that is often read at weddings: Ruth 1:16b “. . . . Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”
Here are some more Biblical examples of family:
Polygamy is common. One man . . . many women. There’s not an explanation that “One was the favorite wife and the others were only there because of economic necessity.” I think it is true that polygamous marriages in the Bible were related to economic necessity and peace among nations, but there was also a whole lot of ‘begating’ as part of those marriages.
Abraham was married to Sarah. He had a baby with his slave, Hagar. Ultimately Hagar and Ishmael were banished into the wilderness. (Gen 21)
Jacob tricked Esau out of the family birthright. The Bible has no problem with it. (Genesis 27).
Judah bought Tamar to be his son Er’s wife. God killed the son so Judah asked his next son to fulfill Er’s duty to produce a child with Tamar. Onan didn’t do it right. God killed Onan. Tamar waited a long time. When she realized the whole child thing wasn’t going to happen, she pretended to be a prostitute, slept with Judah and became pregnant. Judah was going to have he killed until he was confronted with proof that he was the father. He relented and Tamar had twins. Perez and Zerah. (Genesis 38) Perez was the great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather of David. (Ruth 4 – just after today’s reading) Zerah’s great grandson was stoned to death for taking treasure from Jericho that was meant to be destroyed. (Joshua 7)
Jepthah sacrificed his daughter because he vowed to God “After I win the battle with the Ammonites, the first person to greet me at my house will be a sacrifice to you.” (Judges 11)
Jesus made comments completely dissing his mother and brothers and sisters when they were outside the place where he was preaching. (Matthew 12:46-50).
Jesus wasn’t married
Paul wasn’t married – or he was married and left his wife.
Timothy was raised by his mother and grandmother. No mention of a father
There are plenty of examples in the Bible of blended families, single parent families, other kinds of families in the Bible.
And my point today isn’t to lift any up as the ideal. There is nastiness, challenges and good things these and other examples. Ruth’s situation was far less than ideal and the way her family and so many others began isn’t ideal.
But God loves every member of every type of family. And when things go horribly wrong in families. . . God loves every member of every family.
Too often we lift up this ideal of a husband and a wife, 2.5 kids and a dog as the best makeup for a family.
I’m here to tell you that that makeup is only one of the ways that family is experienced here and all over the world. It is no more or less the ideal than . . . . dare I say it? Any family model.
The ideal family is one where love is found. It is that love of God and of each other. It is the family where there is respect and care and kindness. It is the family where lines are not drawn in the sand, but rather things like authority are part of a system that helps people to be better as opposed to simply kept in line. It is the family that listens, forgives and . . . let me say it once more . . . loves.
It doesn’t have to do with some ideal makeup involving the right amount of people in the cookie-cutter roles.
So it is time to stop demonizing the diversity of families in our society. It is time to offer love and care and honesty and acceptance to all of God’s children in all kinds of families.
Because we are all part of God’s family.
Close with prayer.
We had a fun Tuesday evening with our Pork Chop Drive-Thru with Nels Catering. Great chops, baked beans, apple sauce, dinner rolls and Nels Famous Potato Salad. Thanks to all our help and to everyone who bought dinners! Take a look at a few pictures here
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09
Pork Chop Drive Thru tonight!
Join us anytime between 4:30 and 6:30 pm tonight at Union Congregational for our Election Night (even though we don’t have one locally) pork chop drive thru dinner!
Pork Chops, Baked Beans, Apple Sauce, and Nels Famous Potato Salad!
$11 at the door
The text of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL on November 1, 2009
This morning’s Bible reading is from Ruth 1:1-18
Beyond
This morning we go beyond the words that are easy to pronounce and into the realm of the book of Ruth.
Elimelech and Naomi went with their sons Mahlon and Chilion beyond the land of Judah – the land of their ancestors, to Moab, the land of their cousins . . . cousins with a tenuous and sometimes violent past.
After their father died, Mahlon and Chilion married Orpah and Ruth from Moab, and when they died, Naomi, Orpah and Ruth were beyond the help of the system
After traveling beyond where they had been living, Naomi went beyond the idea of self-preservation and told Orpah and Ruth to return to their families. She would live out her days in bitterness and poverty.
Though she convinced Orpah to leave and to seek the care of her family, Ruth was not convinced. She went beyond the safe route and cultural norms and she vowed to stay with Naomi no matter what.
Ruth’s decision to stay with Naomi has significance well beyond her lifetime. She has been traced as the ancestor of David and Jesus, and her love for Naomi has been lifted up as an example for all to follow.
Now . . . let’s go beyond the short observations and discover what it is we will learn today from Ruth 1:1-18.
- Elimelech and Naomi went with their sons Mahlon and Chilion beyond the land of Judah – the land of their ancestors, to Moab, the land of their cousins . . . cousins with a tenuous and sometimes violent past.
There was no love lost between the people of Judah and the people of Moab. Listen to what the book of Deuteronomy says about their status:
(Deuteronomy 23:3-4 NRSV) No Ammonite or Moabite shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of their descendants shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD, {4} because they did not meet you with food and water on your journey out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam son of Beor, from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.
Lots of bad blood over a case of bad hospitality and then later over some angry rhetoric. Nothing new under the sun. But Elimelech and Naomi and Mahlon and Chilion (I just like to say the names) went there anyway. Why? Because there was a famine in Judah. Can you imagine something like this before they left?
“I don’t care that we’re enemies! Who even remembers what it was all about? They are people just like we are. When was the last time we had a battle? Nobody can remember anymore! They have food! If we go there we will be able to find food – and maybe more!”
No history of anger, hate, violence – any kind of bad blood should ever stop people from showing compassion and kindness to others. When we hold onto hate we forget that every person is one whom God calls precious.
- After their father died, Mahlon and Chilion married Orpah and Ruth from Moab, and when they died, Naomi, Orpah and Ruth were beyond the help of the system
Uh-oh. A short statement with two significant ideas.
Mahlon and Chilion married women from Moab! They married women who were from a people who were enemies of the people of Judah. Things may have been peaceful between their two nations and intermarriages happened often, they were still forbidden. Mahlon and Chilion didn’t see enemies, however. They married people.
But then they died. And then there were three women with no means of support in the culture of either of their lands.
Every time we put up the rules or the policies or the procedures or the entitlements in a way that makes us satisfied that we’re being ‘righteous’ or ‘following the will of the people’ or anything like that . . . while at the same time pushing down, marginalizing, and neglecting others – especially those who are most forgotten and exploited in society. We do wrong. We sin. We go against God’s two rules to love God and to love everyone. And I’m going to step in it now. So let me get these things straight. When we acknowledge someone’s or a group of people’s right to do or to have something, we are not marginalizing people who don’t think it is right to let others into the club. Having more people in the club does not ‘cheapen the currency’ nor marginalize or harm people who were already in the club! And when we oppose efforts to care for people in our society who do not have access to health care or are in dire straits because of a system that too often seeks ways to deny care rather than give it – even if our reasoning comes from what sounds reasonable – “I work hard and pay my share – why should someone else get what I’m paying for without paying their dues!” We neglect our call as Christians to be a people who heal the sick – not just the sick who in our system haven’t lost their jobs or their coverage.
- After traveling beyond where they had been living, Naomi went beyond the idea of self-preservation and told Orpah and Ruth to return to their families. She would live out her days in bitterness and poverty.
Naomi cared for Orpah and Ruth. She called them daughters. Her affection for them went well beyond the required, ‘You married my son so I will love you’ idea. She wanted them to be able to be cared for and supported – and she knew she could not do that. She did not want the bitterness of her life to ruin their lives.
And . . . she blessed them in the name of God. Not the God that Orpah and Ruth would have known from Moab, Chemosh, but in the name of Yahweh. Naomi acknowledged that God’s love wasn’t just for her people, but for all people.
If we ever ‘kidnap’ God’s name and do harm to others, marginalize others, neglect others, tell others that they are unacceptable, or in any way treat people with hate or disdain, we do wrong. We sin. We go against God’s two rules to love God and to love everyone.
- Though she convinced Orpah to leave and to seek the care of her family, Ruth was not convinced. She went beyond the safe route and cultural norms and she vowed to stay with Naomi no matter what.
Orpah wasn’t bad for going back to her home. Naomi wasn’t bad for being bitter about her situation. But Ruth did something extraordinary. She took on the role that was reserved for men. She would care for her mother-in-law as a son would. She would never leave her. She would worship Yahweh. She would learn the ways of Naomi’s people. She would become part of those people. Naomi and Ruth would live out the rest of their days connected to one another.
The kind of love that Ruth and Naomi had for each other is Hesed – that unconditional, life-affirming love that comes from God. It is the love that oozes through those two rules. Love God unconditionally. Love everyone unconditionally.
- Ruth’s decision to stay with Naomi has significance well beyond her lifetime. She has been traced as the ancestor of David and Jesus, and her love for Naomi has been lifted up as an example for all to follow.
I think I’ve said enough for today. More Ruth next week.
For now – may we all live what we have learned.
Love God unconditionally
Love everyone unconditionally
Wherever you go.
Close with prayer.
Have a look at pictures from last night’s fun! Click here
The text of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL on October 25, 2009
This morning’s Bible reading is from Mark 10:46-52
Buffets
Today’s sermon is a bit like a buffet lunch. There’s going to be a lot to think about. You probably won’t want to think about it all. You will likely want to spend a whole lot of time thinking about one little piece of it. Even with all that’s here – I’m not going to put every thought possibility in this sermon buffet. So let your mind wander. Let your mind focus. Let your mind run with a particular thought. Enjoy the buffet.
Do you ever feel like you’ve just arrived somewhere and then it’s time to leave? It seems to happen mostly on the best of vacations or – for so many children, on a trip to the amusement park. (It’s time to go home? But we just got here!) Sometimes it happens when you’re moving from one house to another or changing jobs. Maybe it happens every day where you work, study or do what it is that you do every day. (I can’t believe it’s time to go – I feel like I just got here!)
And isn’t it also all too common that when you’re on your way out, there’s something to do that can’t wait until another time?
This week’s Bible reading from Mark 10:46-52 shows both situations as they relate to Jesus and the disciples’ visit to Jericho. Look at the first two sentences in the reading:
They came to Jericho.
As they were leaving. . .
No explanation of what happened. Sure, there was a big crowd following so we can make an assumption that something Jesus did attracted them, but the “They arrived. They were leaving” nature of this story leaves you wondering, “What was so unimportant about the visit?” or “What is so important about what is coming up that it makes what happened before unimportant?”
We’ve probably all experienced “Just one more thing . . .”
Jesus had just one more thing to do while he was in town. Bartimaeus, who was anything but quiet about who he was calling and what he wanted, needed to be healed.
The disciples, who had been learning all kinds of lessons about the last being first and the first last, were apparently oblivious to Bartimaeus ’ shouts. They were just pushing their way out of town. And the crowd kept trying to shut Bartimaeus up! They “sternly ordered him to be quiet.”
Since when has that ever worked?
“You be quiet!”
“I will not be quiet! What I have to say is important! You be quiet!”
“Me? Who do you think you’re talking to? I don’t have to be quiet – YOU be quiet!”
“Blah blah blah” and nothing gets accomplished.
Don’t we want the voices that disagree with ours and the voices of the people we wish we didn’t have to hear and the voices of people crying out in injustice to be quiet? Things would be so much easier, right?
But Jesus didn’t let things go that way. He asked for the man. The people let the man know there was hope! They said “Take heart – he is calling for you!” He sprang up and went to Jesus. Jesus asked ‘What do you want?” (Didn’t we hear that question before?) and Bartimaeus said “I want to see!”
And Jesus made sure that happened.
“Your faith has made you well.”
There’s a whole lot right there – so let’s come back to it.
When Jesus called for Bartimaeus, he ‘sprang up’ and left his cloak – probably the only thing he owned – and came to Jesus. He responded to Jesus invitation with unbridled joy. He left everything he owned to come to Jesus. What a contrast from the one who couldn’t sell everything he had and come follow Jesus. Nothing Bartimaeus had – not ever the cloak that kept him warm and sheltered – was more important than Jesus.
Let me head a little more backwards. Do you remember what Bartimaeus was shouting out to Jesus?
“Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Have mercy!
Have you ever heard that phrase before?
- Uncle Jesse’s catchphrase on ‘Full House?”
- One of DJ Wolfman Jack’s favorite phrases?
- Part of the liturgy in Roman Catholic tradition?
“Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy” - A line in Ray Stevens’ “The Mississippi Squirrel Revival” when Sister Bertha better-than-you experienced the arrival of a squirrel running up her legs – she shouted “Lord have mercy on me!”
- When a preacher’s on fire during a sermon and either the preacher themself or folks in the pews just start shouting “Have mercy!”
What does it all mean? “Have mercy!”
It depends on the context –
- Uncle Jesse: ‘Give me a break!”
- Wolfman Jack: “Oh my goodness!”
- Liturgy: “Be compassionate to me”
- Bertha: “censored”
- The preacher or members of the congregation: “Preach it! Bring it!”
- Bartimaeus: Have pity on or compassion for me, Jesus.
Jesus did.
“Your faith has made you well”
I can’t give you a full explanation about the “Your faith” part. I struggle with it.
“You trusted me – and now you are healed” works great
“You didn’t trust me – and so you’re not going to be healed” doesn’t
I believe that God can heal
I believe that our determination to be healed (our faith) is a help to us when we are healing.
I believe that God can and does heal
I also believe is not limited at all by what we do or do not do.
So there.
- “has made you well”
- “has made you whole”
- “has saved you”
- “has healed you”
- “has restored you”
All of those phrases are accurate translations of what Jesus said to Bartimaeus. He was healed. And he followed Jesus on the way.
The way?
That’s the name Christianity was known by in the early centuries.
We could go on for awhile on that part of today’s reading, too. But we won’t
Have mercy!
Close with prayer.
