The text of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL on November 8, 2009
“Family” podcast (coming soon)
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
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.
The text of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL on October 18, 2009
This morning’s Bible reading is from Mark 10:35-45
Fanatics * Quick-tempered * Explosive * Power-Hungry
James and John had the nickname “Sons of Thunder.” Jesus gave them that nickname. Once a Samaritan village rejected Jesus. The Sons of Thunder wanted to bring fire down from heaven to kill everyone.
(Luke 9:51-56 NRSV) When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. {52} And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; {53} but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. {54} When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” {55} But he turned and rebuked them. {56} Then they went on to another village.)
These two were wildmen.
In today’s Bible reading, there’s a less extreme view of James and John. Instead of seeing them with some dangerously vindictive attitudes, we see them merely wanting positions of authority when Jesus took power.
Jesus knew that what they were asking for meant suffering. These two weren’t ready for that. He told them about being humble. He told them that greatness only comes in being a servant to others.
Yeah — that’s all good. The last shall be first. Turn the other cheek. Blessed are the meek – for they shall inherit the earth. Great spiritual directions.
What do they have to do with real life?
I remember the movie “Risky Business.” A group of friends sat around a table talking about what they wanted to do with their lives. Almost all agreed that they wanted to make a whole lot of money. One, the central character, Joel, played by a young Tom Cruise, said that he wanted to serve his fellow man. Everyone threw their fries at him and laughed.
Our world is filled with the pursuit not of happiness, nor of serving one another – but the expansion of our territory – the increase of our bank accounts – the elevation of ourselves or those we support to positions of power.
To be the best means that you do better than all the rest. It means that you take home the prize. Maybe the prize is recognition. Maybe it is lavish gifts. Maybe it is lots of money. Maybe it’s power.
Life is about winning! The ones who win write the history. The ones who win get all the glory. The ones who win get all the money and power!
But the desire to win in all of life’s pursuits can and will turn things sour. The desire can and will lead a person into insensitivity. Insensitivity leads to rudeness. Rudeness leads to arrogance. Arrogance leads to callousness. And callousness leads to ruthlessness.
Jesus said “Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Jesus came from very humble beginnings. He worked with his hands. He lived the life of a peasant. He healed people. He did upset the status quo and he was more than annoyance to the religious and nonreligious power brokers of his day. But when he made his final entry into Jerusalem, he rode on the foal of a donkey instead of on a proud stallion. He gave food to the hungry and he visited the sick. When he made miracles happen he told the people to keep quiet. He ran and hid from the ones who wanted him to become a powerful ruler. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Jesus let himself be crucified.
Look — I don’t think it’s wrong to win or to have money. I don’t think it’s wrong to have fame. I don’t think it’s wrong to have nice homes and cars.
But it is not the model Jesus has for us.
Philippians 2:5-8 says this: Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, {6} who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, {7} but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, {8} he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death– even death on a cross.
Having the same mind that was in Jesus is not about the competition. It is not about winning. It is about losing. It is about emptying ourselves of the things that we make more important than God.
Last week Rev. Kathy Lawes talked about the one who asked Jesus what he could do to inherit eternal life. Do you remember this?
(Mark 10:17-22 NRSV) As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” {18} Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. {19} You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” {20} He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” {21} Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” {22} When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
James and John probably didn’t have money — but they did crave power. And they were followers of Jesus Christ. Like we so often do, they lost sight of what it meant to be a true servant. Jesus reminded them that true greatness does not come from power. True greatness comes in our emptiness and in the knowledge that we are weak — and it is in Christ that we are strong. When we lose our compass – forgetting to seek God and forgetting to follow – above all – the two rules of loving God and loving everyone — When we seek power – we will find trouble.
Close with prayer.
The sermon delivered by Rev. Kathy Lawes, Prairie Association UCC Minister, at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL on October 11, 2009
This morning’s Bible reading is from Mark 10:17-31
The text of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL on October 4, 2009
This morning’s Bible reading is from Mark 10:2-16
Welcome to World Communion Sunday! Why in the world did we read a Bible passage with words like ‘divorce’ and ‘adultery’ today?
Please be sure to keep your seat belts fastened during today’s flight. Things could get a little bit bumpy . . . Because today’s Bible reading is a favorite to use for scriptural abuse.
Why do we use the Bible to cut people down?
It’s too easy to look at the first part of this week’s reading from Mark 10:2-16 and think, “Wow – Jesus hates divorced people!”
Context is REALLY important here, however.
In Palestine at the time Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees, divorce was all about what the man wanted and what the man did to make the divorce happen. Women had no power in the situation. The Pharisees brought Jesus a question that was a trap. He couldn’t answer it without angering some.
So he angered some. He asked them what the law of Moses said. Then he answered a different question — without dealing with the legality of things. Jesus talked about the ideal for marriage. He talked about it in equal terms with men and women.
Equal terms.
Equal terms in marriage and divorce – and the equality of children with adults. Jesus took the trap and showed the Pharisees and the disciples that marriage was intended to build up both of the people in the marriage. He showed the Pharisees and the disciples that their rules caused trouble when they sought to use them to take power and persecute someone else.
Marriages fail for many reasons. People are too quick to start saying things like, “Well, they were abused – so of course we won’t hold a divorce against them” while at the same time saying, “Irreconcilable differences? What kind of excuse is that? What has happened in our society where people just throw away their marriage vows like yesterday’s trash?!”
Incidentally… Do you know where the divorce rates in the US are the lowest?
Massachusetts, Georgia, Illinois, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
8 of those ten are ‘Blue’ states.
States with the highest divorce rates?
Nevada, Arkansas, Alabama, Wyoming, Idaho, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida and Mississippi.
8 of those 10 are ‘Red’ states.
(http://www.divorce.com/blog/cdc-report-shows-massachusetts-has-lowest-divorce-rate)
Among Christian religious folks, the divorce rate is highest for conservative protestants and much lower for mainline protestants.
And atheists have a lower divorce rate than any religious group!
(http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm)
I don’t want to attack the right and praise the left. I don’t want to say that atheism makes for better marriages and that Christianity destroys marriage. None of that is fair and it’s not true. But I must point out that we have to stop thinking that ‘liberals’ destroy marriage while ‘conservatives’ save it. We must stop thinking that religious folk are immune from marriage while non religious folk just throw it out the window. Divorce is painful and sad. But couples across the religious and non religious spectrum get divorced.
I don’t think that people enter into marriage with each other with the idea of ending it. And I don’t think Jesus ever intended us to take this morning’s Bible reading and shun or chastise people who have suffered through abuse or who have lived through divorce after failed marriages – regardless of the reason. I do think that Jesus wanted married couples to take their vows seriously and to live their lives loving each other and living at peace with one another.
But it is so NOT Jesus to kick someone when they are down. Jesus teaches something quite the opposite.
In the second part of today’s reading we’ve got another lesson related to children. But while the one from a couple of weeks ago served and serves as a reminder to welcome everyone – and especially those whom society places little or no value, this week is about experiencing the realm of God not with squinted, jaded eyes and hardened hearts, but rather with awe and wonder.
Jesus told the disciples to experience the realm of God from the perspective of a child.
“Stop trying to figure everything out! Stop making everything about this long list of ‘don’ts’! Keep with the two rules and then let things flow from that! Play! Jump! Dance! Run! Shout! Giggle!”
Try one of those
Play? Jump? Dance? Run? Shout? Giggle?
It’s OK – joy is contagious – come and play! Experience God’s realm the way Jesus said to! Celebrate today’s communion with the joy of resurrection and new life! (Let me take just a second to tell you that at Union Congregational Church – everyone – no exceptions – is invited and welcome to partake in communion. Parents – you make the decision whether you wish to have your children receive communion, but my encouragement is that there is no reason to keep anyone away – and every reason to include everyone in the celebration.)
Remember: No one is unimportant. Everyone is valuable. And everyone can experience God’s realm – God’s presence — God’s love, with the open hearts and minds of little children.
Close with prayer.
