Monday, October 31, 2011

Reflections on "Does It Matter - Part 2" Deuteronomy 26: 1-11; 2 Corinthians 8: 1-7

Sermon went okay. Usually the sermon feels like it goes better in one service or the other.  This sermon had a split-decision:  the first part of the sermon felt better in the Sanctuary service; the final part of the sermon felt better in the Chapel service.  Not sure what made the difference.

I took the story of the woman in KY and focused on two aspects of it for this sermon.  I am reminded that a good story is usually multivalent.  In this case, not only can the hearer find his or her own meaning, but I could have crafted the story differently to emphasize other points.

In the final analysis, a sermon with personal comments about my own style of giving and a story from my own personal experience may have to much of "me" in it.

Does It Matter – Part II” October 30, 2011; Capital campaign series;
Introduction: Last week we reflected on the question – does it matter in the context of a project to repair and renovate a building, namely our sanctuary.
This week, I am asking the same question – does it matter? – in the context of does it matter for each of us to participate in the capital campaign.
Move 1: It matters because we are connected to a community of faith.
a. WE are connected in an historical sense.
    1. All-Saints Sunday.
    2. Remember those who have come before us.
    3. They began this project.
    4. They built the sanctuary; they added on to the church building; they (and now the they probably includes some of us) built the chapel.
    5. They added on the the new Social Hall.
    6. We have been the recipients of their building efforts and financial commitments.
    7. Part of being connected to the saints who have come before means taking responsibility for the church in our time, just as they did in their time.
b. We are also connected in the present time.
1. This is our project – a group effort.
    1. What you give is your decision. In fact, the basis of this campaign is for each of us to prayerfully discover what God is calling us to give.
    2. Whether you give or not is again about you and your prayerful consideration.
    3. But, I would urge you to give to be part of what this community of faith is doing.
    4. More than your money, we need you to be a part of what we are doing here.
    1. When we celebrate the completion of the different projects, we want everyone to feel that it is their project to celebrate. A celebration of the community of faith that worked together to make the project happen.
  1. Retired teacher; garage sale after paychecks; no family, except for cousins and “her boys” a older, single woman in the church in KY. She had been sick and in a nursing home and had missed church for a couple of months. She had lots of questions about what was happening at the church, including how the capital campaign had gone.
    She noted that she had missed out on the campaign and on getting visited by someone as part of the capital campaign.
    She wondered if I could take her pledge card back to the church and a check for her pledge. I really do not like taking money from people I visit. I do not want them to think that the reason I came was to get their money, but she really wanted me to take her gift and pledge card.
    As she gave me the card and check, she had tears in her eyes. She told me that she was sorry she could not give more, but that was all she could give at the time.
    I assured her that any gift she gave First of all, she gave me a pledge card for the capital campaign as I assured her that her gift was welcome and she did not need to be upset about not being able to give as much as she wanted. In fact, she did not need to give anything at all.
    As she responded, I began to realize that she had to give – but not because of the amount. She had to give because she wanted to be a part of that project that was important to her church.
Our giving matters because we are part of this community of faith.

Move 2: It matters because we need to be reminded that everything is God's – we just have use of some of it.
a. A biblical principle.
    1. All we have God has given to us.
    2. The Deuteronomy passage points out how the Israelites are called to respond to being led out of bondage by God and led to the land of milk and honey.
    3. As they receive the crops from the ground in the land God has given them, they give the first fruits back to God.
b. I confess to be rather certain at times that money in my paycheck or the money is Leslie's paycheck is ours.
  1. No one else's.
  2. we worked the hours, right?
  3. The money is ours, so we can do with it what we like.
  4. That sense of ownership easily extends beyond the money we earn to all the material things we have.
  5. How easily we forget that from the very breath we breathe, all we are and all we have comes from God.
  6. Perhaps even more than the actual financial commitment, the process of prayerfully turning to God and asking God's guidance for our giving brings us back to that place where we can acknowledge that all we have comes from God.
b. Retired woman.
    1. Since she did not have any immediate family, I spent a lot of time with her when she was in the hospital, or nursing home, or even when she was home and not getting around much (in fact, one time when she had been relatively healthy for a while, she told me that was thinking about going back into the hospital because she'd missed talking to me).
    2. Anyway, we spent a lot of time talking, and I learned a lot about her life.
    3. She had two brothers. She loved them both, but one was the good brother, who held a responsible job and did things right. The other brother did not have that same ambition or desire to work and do things right.
    4. None of the three sibling ever married.
    5. When the good brother died, he left everything to this woman, in part, because he did not want the other brother to use his inheritance to do stupid things.
    6. Her brother had died about 15 years earlier.
    7. He had a portfolio.
    8. She never touched it.
    9. She said it did not feel right to spend his money.
    10. Money he had given to her.
    11. But money she did not see as her money.
    12. AS it turns out, when she died, her estate (which she left to the church) was worth over $850,000. Where did most of it come from? Her brother's portfolio that she had never touched because it was his money.

      c. God has blessed us with many resources.
      1. God does not demand that we not use those resources.  In fact, God calls us to live fully.
      2.  We are free to spend those resources.
      2. But, we are asked to give back as an acknowledgment that the resources we have come from God.
      2. Our giving matters because it reminds us that all we have is a gift from God.
Move 3: It matters because we are invited to claim the privilege of giving.
a. Fascinated with Paul's comments to the church in Corinth.
    1. Paul shares with the Corinthians what the Macedonian church had done about sending an offering for the poor Christian community in Jerusalem.
    2. Context of the extra offering being sent to the poor Christians in writes about the "privilege" the churches in Macedonia felt as they "begged" to be able to give to the offering for the poor church in Jerusalem.
      b. you may remember my description of myself as an obligation giver.
          1. I am trying in my own approach to see giving as a privilege.
          2. not simply an obligation.
          3. Not even an opportunity, which sounds sort of like a positive way to spin a sense of obligation.
          c. What does it mean for me to consider it a privilege to give?
          1. In part, it means that I am fortunate to be in a position where I have the resources to give. In tough economic times, Leslie and I are both employed and can make a gift. Even as I say that, I realize that my sense of privilege is still not where the Macedonian churches are because they feel the privilege of giving out of their poverty!
          2. In part, it cuts to the heart of my understanding of call. I believe that God called me to serve this congregation, so I get to join with you in a project that is important to this congregation.
          3. in part, it speaks to my sense of gratefulness for God claiming me in relationship. Only by the grace of God, literally, can I even dare to claim the privilege of giving back to God.
            d. I invite you to consider what it means that you have the privilege of giving.
            Conclusion: Our giving does matters in ways far beyond the actual amount of our gift.

Friday, October 28, 2011

"Does It Matter -- Part II" II Corinthians 8: 1-5; Deuteronomy 26: 1-11

I intentionally picked a more generic title for this week because I wasn't sure what direction I wanted to go.  I'm still not sure where to go with the sermon.  It is being preached in the context of the last few weeks of a capital campaign.

 Paul writes about the "privilege" the churches in Macedonia felt as they "begged" to be able to give to the offering for the poor church in Jerusalem.  I am wondering how often we consider it a privilege to give.  Obligation or opportunity, perhaps, but privilege? Or begging for the privilege to give?

The Deuteronomy passage provides a classic stewardship text on tithing.  In this context, the tithing is an automatic response to the Israelites being brought into the Promised Land.  As they receive the crops from the ground in the land God has given them, they give the first fruits back to God.

I've been reflecting this week on why it matters that we give.  not in terms of for the project, but for ourselves.  Part of the answer is tied to being people of God who are called to return back to God.  How does the sense of privilege fit into that?

I'm not sure how this story fits, but I clearly remember visiting a older, single woman in the church in KY.  She had been sick and in a nursing home and had missed the stewardship visits that were part of a dual campaign (operating budget + capital campaign).  I actually got more involved with her finances than I would generally like to because she had no family and would ask me to look over her bank statements, etc. for her if she had a question or was having a problem.  Finances were on her mind that day.  First of all, she gave me a pledge card for the capital campaign as she tearfully told me that was all she could give at the time (it was not an extraordinarily big gift).  I assured her that her gift was welcome and she did not need to be upset about not being able to give as much as she wanted.  A week or so later when I visited her, she asked me to look at her bank statement because she had some questions about some charges the bank had that month.  So, I looked over her bank account and discovered that she had more than 1.5 times what I earned in a year in her checking account!  I answered her question and then offered the financial advice that maybe she ought to put some of those funds in an investment vehicle that would make her some interest.  She noted that she didn't want to get caught short on cash, so she needed that money in her checking account.  I talked to her lawyer (small town life) and told him what I had discovered.  He laughed as he told me that he'd been telling her that for years, but she wouldn't do it.  I confess to thinking maybe I should have not been so ready to tell her it was okay to not give as much as she would have liked.  This was the beginning of her gradual decline, so i spent a lot of time talking with her about lots of things.  Somewhere along the way she told me that she was the last sibling to die and that her oldest brother had left her some money.  She had never spent a dime of it over the twenty years since he had died (she just let the broker reinvest it) because she did not feel like it was her money, so she couldn't spend it.  She never told me about her will, but told me that she hoped if she had any money that she'd like a scholarship set up at her alma mater, money given to this group and that group.  I told her that telling me was fine, but she needed to tell her lawyer.  She always responded to that with, "He's one of my boys (she had been a schoolteacher and had taught him), so I know he'll do what's right."  Every time she told me that, I would tell her, "I'm glad he's one of your boys, but if you don't tell him what you want him to do with your estate, he won't be able to make sure what you want to happen, happens."  She finally died (I was with her when she died), and I met her lawyer in the hallway (he didn't not get there before she died).  As we talked I told him that she had told me lots of ways that she wanted to use her estate.  He gave me kind of a funny look that I interpreted as this topic was none of my business, so I dropped the topic.  A week or so later he asked me to come by his office.  When I got there he told me, "you remember at the hospital when you told me what she wanted to do with her money? Well, I hope you remember that now because the church is the sole beneficiary of her estate."  $850,000 left to the church (we did remember those groups).  And the bulk of the money was from that investment account of her brother's that she never touched.  It just grew and grew and then ended up with the church.

I have always believed that the best way to help a person grow in their giving is to help them become what some call a "patterned giver."  That is, if any of us commit to giving on a monthly basis, or use automatic

Long stories that won't make the sermon, or at least not yet, but both have been on my mind.

What do you think about giving, particularly in the context of it being a privilege?

Monday, October 24, 2011

Reflections on "Does It Matter - Part 1" Exodus 25: 1-8; Luke 6: 46-49

I really liked this sermon.  Both of the texts spoke to me, and I think the sermon reflected that.  The stories that I randomly encountered in the last week (talking with Aka and reading Christian Century) seemed to be exactly what I needed for this sermon.

When I went to the preaching seminar a couple of years ago, the professor who critiqued my sermons challenged me to have something for a person to do in response to every sermon.  I'm not sure that was achieved with this sermon, but the sermon did have lots of reflection that may mirror what others in the congregation are thinking as we move through the capital campaign.

Does It Matter – Part I” FPC, Troy; October 23, 2011 Exodus 25: 1-8; Luke 6: 46-49
Introduction: I have thought quite a bit about buildings recently, more specifically, this building our sanctuary.
I have thought about the sanctuary a lot in the context of working with a committee to see what needs to be done to repair and upgrade our sanctuary.
I have also thought about the sanctuary a lot in the to context of does it matter? Does it matter that we repair stained glass windows, or upgrade the audio-visual capabilities, or repair the ceiling.
Should we spend money on a building?
As a continuing part of my reflections, I want to share some stories about buildings this morning.
Story 1: Aka Pereyma, artist who sculpted “Jacob's Ladder” traveled back to the Ukraine with her daughter several years ago. Aka grew up in the Greek Catholic tradition, which I gather is what would be called part of the Eastern Catholic church that is connected with the Roman Catholic church, rather than the Greek Orthodox or Eastern Orthodox church. My less than informed understanding would be a church that feels Eastern Orthodox, but who liturgy follows the Roman Catholic tradition. In other words, lots of beautiful sanctuaries and icons.
After they returned home to Troy, Aka asked her daughter, “What impressed you most about the Ukraine?”
the chapels.” Across the Ukraine, Aka informed me, they saw what can best be described as little chapels. Places that are built to hold one or two, maybe three people who can meditate or worship God.
Aka told me that many times they would arrive at a crossroad juncture and look up and see one of these chapels. As if at any critical juncture someone might need a place to meditate and worship God.
Aka was so impressed with these chapels that she has now built or orchestrated the building of four of these chapels. She showed me the latest one she has designed. Fascinating looking chapel (story told with Aka Pereyma's permission)
Having a place to worship God matters.
Story 2: God instructed the Israelites to “Build me a sanctuary where you can gather to worship me.”
We remember that the Israelites were people on the move. It was not practical for them to build a building. What good would a sanctuary like ours do them when they were nomads living off the land?
But God wanted them to have a place of worship; a place where they could be in the presence of the Lord. God commanded them to take up an offering to build the Tabernacle.
We know that God gives the Israelites very detailed instructions for the Tabernacle. WE also know that as the Israelites traveled from place to place the Tabernacle was dismantled and the reassembled in the new place so that wherever the Israelites went, they could gather and worship in the presence of God.
A place to worship God matters.
Story 3: I recently read an article about the government of the Czech Republic deciding to give back the churches and property taken from the churches (or to give monetary compensation if the building had been destroyed) when the the communist government took over in the 1950s. (Christian Century, “Czech government will turn over seized churches”Aug 26, 2011, Jonathan Luxmoore)

Imagine the joy being felt by the churches in the Czech Republic as their historic buildings, the places of worship, are being returned to them.
A church building does matter.
Story 4: I shared in my blog earlier this week about my grandmother's house in Falls Church, VA. That I believed to be on the National Registry of Historic buildings. One of the persons reading my blog sent me a list of those buildings and asked which one was my grandmother's house. It wasn't there, which led to my calling home.
I learned that my grandmother's house was sold to the historical society, which wanted the house because of its historic nature. And in the deed is the requirement that the house not be destroyed because of its historic value. Apparently the plaque on the building is from the historical society, not the National Register of Historic Buildings.
This summer we took a family photo on the front steps. As we walked around this house where my grandmother lives, I had lots of stories to tell. Just seeing the building reminded me family gatherings that took place there; family members who have since died; I even remember that house as the final resting place of my blankie, that my grandmother threw out when she decided I was too old to have a blankie (that may explain a lot about me!).
If I drove by this address and the building was not there, if there were a parking garage or high rise office building, would I still have those memories? Maybe? But I suspect the building itself evokes those memories in ways that would not happen if it were not there.
Move 2: But buildings do not matter just because they are there.
a. Jesus tells the story of building
    1. One person builds a house on a rock solid foundation. This is the person who hears God's word and responds to it.
    2. When the flood comes, the building survives because its foundation is the Word of God.
    3. Another person builds a house with no foundation. This is the person who hears God's Word but does not respond
    4. When the flood comes, the house is swept away because it does not have a strong foundation.
    5. This sanctuary matters when it brings people into the presence of God.
    6. This sanctuary matters when people gather and hear God's Word and go into the world to share God's word and serve God's people.
Move 3: Back to the stories I have mentioned about buildings.
a. Aka Pereyma Back to Aka's building of the chapels. As she shared this story with me, she stopped and emphasized to make sure I got it, that her desire to build these chapels was for the glorification of God.
b. Czech churches have new issues with the return of their buildings. The churches will no longer receive state support. They will now be left on their own. They are in the process of discovering that buildings will only matter if they help the church live out its calling as the body of Christ."Although we've dreamed for years of becoming free from the state, this will pose a great challenge," said Ruml, whose council represents 11 Christian denominations, including Catholics as associate members. "Many church members are used to state support, and will need to be shown how this new situation offers opportunities for stabilizing our position and opening society to our work." —ENInews
c. As a funny aside, after her death (which was probably 10 or more years after she had sold the building), Leslie (wife now; fiancee then) and I stopped by the old house and went in and asked to look around the house.  It was owned by some company that had staff there, and they allowed us to wander through the building.  In their main office, which happened to be my grandmother's former bedroom, they had one of those boards that tracked  who was in and who was out by moving the marker next to the employee's name to the 'In" column or the "out" column.  I was surprised to look up and see that Mrs. O'Bannon, my grandmother, had her name listed there and a marker noting that she was "In."  The person showing us around saw me notice that and became a little embarrassed as she explained, "we hear strange noises sometimes, and when we do we mark your grandmother as being "IN," and when we don't hear the noises, we mark her as being "out!"
Conclusion: Our sanctuary matters because it has been a place where God was “In” for generations in the past; our sanctuary matters in future generations when it serves as a place where God's people can gather to worship God and discover that God is still “IN.”

Friday, October 21, 2011

"Does It Matter - Part 1" Exodus 25: 1-8; Luke 6: 46-4

This sermon continues reflecting on our "Shining Our Light" capital campaign.  It picks up the Exodus story that reveals God's desire for the Israelites to build a sanctuary so God can be among them.  It also builds (pun intended!) on Jesus' story about building on a strong foundation.

I've been thinking about the role buildings play in our lives, and have had the following thoughts:

1. I spoke with a Ukrainian Catholic recently who described the power of chapels in her homeland.  She is now orchestrating the building of chapels on her farm and for others.  I hope to talk with her today to hear more about these little chapels.

2.  I recently read an article about the government of the Czech Republic deciding to give back the churches and property taken from the churches (or to give monetary compensation if the building had been destroyed) when the the communist government took over in the 1950s.  In return, the churches will now start paying their own ministers, instead of the state paying the ministers.

3. My grandmother had her home in Falls Church, VA added to the National Registry of Historic Buildings before selling it so that it would be there in  perpetuity.  I just saw it this summer and took a photo of my family on the front steps.  It brings back lots of memories. I wonder if I drove by and there was no building there how that would impact my memory?  As a funny aside, after her death (which was probably 10 or more years after she had sold the building), Leslie (wife now; fiancee then) and I stopped by the old house and went in and asked to look around the house.  It was owned by some company that had staff there, and they allowed us to wander through the building.  In their main office, which happened to be my grandmother's former bedroom, they had one of those boards that tracked  who was in and who was out by moving the marker next to the employee's name to the 'In" column or the "out" column.  I was surprised to look up and see that Mrs. O'Bannon, my grandmother, had her name listed there and a marker noting that she was "In."  The person showing us around saw me notice that and became a little embarrassed as she explained, "we hear strange noises sometimes, and when we do we mark your grandmother as being "IN," and when we don't hear the noises, we mark her as being "out!"

4.  Consider how the Twin Towers have become so symbolic in our story as a nation.

5.  But, of course, our sanctuary does not matter if the foundation created by our worship there is not Jesus Christ.

Peace,

Richard

Monday, October 17, 2011

Reflections on "A Personal Commitment" I Chronicles 29: 10-22; 2 Corinthians 8: 8-15

Sorry if there are extra numbers and odd spaces. I am having a little bit of a formatting problem. 

We had the choir from First Presbyterian Church, Eaton, OH join with our choir to provide music leadership at our sanctuary service.  If you were in the sanctuary service, the preached sermon contained a few references to their presence which are not contained in the written notes below.

I borrowed the final illustration from a sermon I listened to at the suggestion of my friend Karl (if you want to hear that sermon in its entirety, go to http://cogpc.org/worship%20sermons.html and listen to the Oct. 9, 2011 sermon).  I thought the illustration was funny story/joke, but I wasn't sure about whether it was a merely a funny story, or if it added to the sermon.  Consequently, I think there was some hesitation in the story that kept it from working as well as it could have.  A reminder that when preaching, I have to commit to what's being preached, or it will not come across as well as it could.

This sermon is part of our "shining Our Light" capital campaign, and it was designed to be the minister's personal sharing about his (in my case) commitment to the campaign, including (if deemed helpful) an announcement of what the minister is pledging to the campaign. As you will see, I shied away from making that public declaration and made it more about how each of us is being asked to make a personal commitment.  I did share some of what is behind how my wife and I go about making a commitment like this. Not sure if the minister sharing his or her specific commitment is more effective or not.

As I preached the sermon, I would like to play with David's "free will" offering a bit more.  I think there is a richness there barely got tapped in this sermon.  

My discussion of an "obligation" giver vs. a "specific project" giver grows out of my own experience of talking to people about giving. Those terms did not come from a source I had read on the topic of stewardship, but I found them helpful.  People's reasons for giving, of course, are more nuanced than those two categories, but I do think most of us fall into one or two categories.  I suspect that our campaign consultant would cringe at the thought that I list my first rationale for giving as obligation, but that is true to who I am as a giver.   It is probably an area of growth for me as well!

I hope that in the personal sharing people could find themselves and lay claim to how they approach their giving.  

The 2 Corinthians passage comes from a section of that letter that has some tremendous stewardship insights.  My advanced Greek exegesis paper was on stewardship in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, so I am enjoying revisiting those texts.

A Personal Commitment” October 16, 2011; Capital Campaign;

Introduction: King David eloquently shares his desire to give back to God and the desire of his people

I love the enthusiasm David feels for giving.

I find it a bit ironic that King David, the one who sets the rules, the one who controls the people, calls them to give a “free will offering.” I'm not sure how much “free will” the Israelites felt when King David urges them to give.

Perhaps you know that feeling each fall when stewardship season rolls around, particularly in a year when we are all being asked to give to the “Shining Our Light” capital campaign as well.

Let's take a few moments and reflect on what it means to make a personal commitment at this time.

Move 1: Personal means we each have a different context for our giving.

a. Each of us is at a different place in our lives right now.
    1. Some of us have secure jobs with no fear for loss of income.

    2. Others of us are looking for jobs or are feeling vulnerable at work

      3. Some of us at at our peak earning.

    3. Others of us are on fixed income or just beginning to reach the income level we want.

    4. Some of us have kids in college or parents to care for at this time.

    5. Others of us have lots of accumulated resources.

      b. We do share some contexts.

      1. We are all connected to this congregation.

      2. We all have been blessed by God.

      3. we all are living in a time with economic uncertainty, political unrest, and ongoing war in our world.

      4. Of course, each of us is impacted differently by those contexts we share.

  1. c. Let me give a concrete example of my context. 
      1. 1. Leslie and are both employed and we like to think we are both secure in our jobs. 

      2. 2. Our family income is greater than it was at earlier points in our married life. 

      3. 3. We have a child we hope is headed to college next year, so we know that two of the three years of the capital campaign will take place with that added burden to our expenses. 

      4. 4. I am the minister, which brings with it a certain obligation. 

      5. 5. In our personal context, Leslie and I are prayerfully considering our commitment to the “Shining Our Light” campaign.
        1. d. It is not about what someone else is doing, but about what I am doing or in your case, what you are doing. 
          Each of us is being asked to make a personal commitment to the Shining Our Light capital campaign.
          Move 2: Reflect on various reasons to give


b. Obligation giver.

    1. This person gives because they fell an obligation.
    2. An obligation to God for all the gifts God has given to her.
    3. An obligation to support this congregation.
    4. I am an obligation giver.
    5. When Leslie and I set a goal of giving at least a tithe, 10%, I view that goal as an obligation.
    6. I arrange to have checks sent from my checking account twice a month to meet that obligation.
    7. I monitor our income (Leslie's income fluctuates with her work and I make varying amounts as a soccer referee) and our giving to make sure that we are reaching our giving goal.
    8. When I think about our commitment to the “Shining Our Light” capital campaign, I begin with what should my obligation be.
    9. The good news about an obligation giver is that they consistently give whether they are excited about what's happening or not.

      c. But I live in split household. My wife is more interested in giving to specific projects.
      1. If she hears about a mission project in Africa or a local group raising funds to help a specific person or project, she calls me or texts me or tracks me down and says we need to give to this project.
      2. She usually feels passionate about the project.
      3. She does not have much sympathy when her obligation giving husband says, “I'm not sure we can give to that, we've already given enough to meet our giving goal.”
      4. In other words, when you want funds for that special project, you better as my wife!
                  5. When Leslie thinks about the “shining our Light” capital campaign, she thinks about the particular projects that excite her.

d. In truth, most of have a bit of both the obligation giver and the specific project giver in us.

e. As you consider your personal commitment to the Shining Our Light capital campaign, I hope you will be open to the the obligation of giving we have and the passion and excitement of the particular projects involved in this campaign.

Move 3: Giving as part of discipleship

a. King David connected his giving with the many blessings God had showered on him. His giving was part of what it meant to be in relationship with God.

b. Paul understands giving to be part of what it means to be a follower of the resurrected Christ.

    1. Paul writes to these fledgling followers of Christ to help them figure out how to be Christians in their world.
    2. A world where they are at odds with the governing authorities.
    1. At odds with the Jewish tradition out of which they came.
    1. At odds with each other.
  1. Paul offers them lots of advice on how to live out their new found calling as disciples of Christ.
  1. An important part of that is their giving. Paul challenges them to eagerly give both to support ministries in their communities and to support Christians in other places.
  1. As each of us is invited to consider our commitment to the “shining Our Light” campaign, we are asked to do so in the context of our calling as disciples of Christ.

Conclusion: Story about a church that was short on its budget; had a contest to see who could give the most on a Sunday morning to catch up the shortfall; winner could pick three hymns.

Sunday arrrives; offering; Treasurer quickly goes through the offering; minister announces that Ms. Johnson, the spinster woman has given the most; she makes her way from back of the sanctuary on her walker; minister introduces her and announces she now gets to pick three hymns – she immediately looks out at the congregation and points as she says, “I pick him, and him, and him...”

Lots of different motivations to give.

King David wanted to give in response to the blessings he had received from God.

Paul wanted to give as a part of his calling as a disciple of Christ.

Each of us is being asked to prayerfully consider what our personal commitment will be to our "Shining our Light" capital campaign.






Friday, October 14, 2011

"A Personal Commitment" I Chronicles 29: 10-22; 2 Corinthians 8: 8-15

As we continue through our "Shining Our Light" capital campaign, the campaign consultant requested that I share my own personal commitment to the campaign.  It has been interesting to reflect on my personal commitment in the context of our theological understanding of stewardship.

Several thoughts that have not made their way into a sermon yet.

1.  Each of us has a different context out of which we give and connection to this church and this particular capital campaign.  I am not a member of the congregation, as I am a member of presbytery.  I am the minister, however, which has its own set of implications.  As someone who is very dependent on the AV system each week, I am particularly interested in that aspect of the project.

2.  Leslie and I give our offering every two weeks out of our earnings, as we will do our giving to the capital campaign, as opposed to having an investment portfolio or pool of savings which we can use to fund our giving.

3.  I like the challenge of giving and the opportunity it gives us to establish in our own budget how we value our giving back to God relative to the other things we do and enjoy in life.

4.  I observe in myself a tendency to be more of a "obligation" giver, if you will, who wants to make sure that we meet our giving goal (10% of income) when we tally up our income and giving totals at the end of the year.  I bring to that a lack of generosity if the giving would extend me much beyond the goal.  My wife, however, is a more joyful giver -- she gets excited about a project or feels sympathetic toward a group and is willing to give, regardless of whether we have already given our quota for that month.  In other words, I feel the joy of giving more as a sense of the satisfaction of accomplishing a goal; my wife feels the joy of giving because she is invested in the particular projects we support.

5. In the I Chronicles passage, David speaks of a "freewill offering" of the people.  How "freewill" is it when the King is asking you to do it?  Likewise, how "freewill" does it feel when your church is asking you to give?

6.  I love the enthusiasm David feels for giving.

7.  Paul calls the Corinthians to a sense of "eagerness" in their giving.  As we think about giving now, we do so in uncertain economic times, in a time of political unrest, and in a time when friends and family are being deployed to serve in harm's way.  How do we "eagerly" give?  On the other hand, Paul is writing to people who are in a  fragile place as a minority group that is at risk in the larger society and in the context of their Jewish tradition that is at odds with them, so they knew something about uncertainty as well.

not sure how this is going to fit together in a sermon, but ...

Peace,

Richard

Monday, October 10, 2011

Reflections on "Sharing a Vision" Ezra 5: 6-11; Revelation 9:13-19

I loved the Kodak Theater illustration.  My only concern was not saving it for a sermon down the road.  I think a whole sermon could be constructed around that illustration.

I'm not sure how well the sermon worked.  I really liked the Ezra passage, but the Revelation passage ended up just being included because it had been advertised as the text for the week.  I think the challenge for me was that when I did some biblical work on "vision," the stories related to it seemed to dwarf my use of the word when thinking about a sanctuary renovation.  One of the ongoing challenges for me and the congregation is to lay claim to this project while the world is in the midst of economic upheaval, war, etc.  I think the Ezra passage helped in that regard.

The conclusion didn't work too well for me either.

This is one of those Monday mornings when I wish I had another shot at Sunday's sermon!

Sharing a Vision” FPC, Troy; October 9, 2011 Ezra 5: 6-11; Revelation 9: 13-19

Introduction: Kodak Theater in LA where Academy Awards are held each year has a place where stars can gather --  a "star bar," if you will, as part of the lobby.  The glass is designed so that as you look at it from across the lobby, you can easily see someone like Tom Hanks having a drink.  But, as you get closer, the images get fuzzy.  From a distance, you can see the stars, but if you get to close, you cannot see them. I suppose it blends the excitement of seeing the stars with the crowd control of keeping people from getting to close to the stars.

The vision is clear from the distance, but gets fuzzy as you get closer.


Over the last few months, I know many of you have heard about the different projects that are to be funded by our “shining the Light” capital campaign.
There have been questions and conversations around the different aspects of those projects.
Many of us have been taking a close look at the details of the project.
This morning I want us to step back a bit and reflect on the vision from more of a distance and be reminded of how this vision came into focus.
Move 1: Use the Ezra passage
a. As you may recall, the book of Ezra, and its sister book Nehemiah, tell the story of the exiles returning to Jerusalem.
    1. When Babylon conquered Jerusalem, many Israelites were sent into captivity.
    2. They literally were moved away from Jerusalem.
    3. Now after generations in exile, some Israelites have received permission from King Darius of Persia, the exiles have been allowed to return home to Jerusalem.
    4. And for some of them even more importantly, they are returning to Jerusalem with a vision to rebuild the Temple, the house of God that has been the center of their worship.
    5. The projects associated with our “shining our Light” campaign pale in comparison to the project confronting the returning exiles who have to rebuild the crumbling Temple that has been in disrepair for years.
b. Not everyone is happy about their return and their vision for a rebuilt Temple.
    1. The Ezra passage we read this morning is a portion of a letter that is considered to be a progress report, although it sounds a bit like a tattle-tale letter to the king to me.
    2. Tattenai, who opposes the rebuilding of the temple tries to get the Israelites in trouble by sharing what the Israelites said when he asked who gave them permission to build and what their name is.
    3. Apparently, when confronted the Israelites begin their explanation by announcing,"We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished."
5. That is the mandate they follow as they live out the vision of a rebuilt Temple – we are continuing in what our leaders have started and we are servants of God.
Move 2: Our vision grows out of our past.
a. In 1865 this sanctuary held the community wide service to mourn the death of President Abraham Lincoln.
    1. At his death, the city leaders of Troy gather to decide how to respond.
    2. Something like the religious and city leaders who gathered after 9/11 to determine a way for the community to respond.
    3. The civic leader asked every congregation to have a memorial service as part of their regularly scheduled Sunday worship.
    4. And, they decided to gather at the Presbyterian Church on Franklin street for a city wide memorial service.
    5. Here in this sanctuary.
      b. Why this place?
    1. For starters, it was a newly new beautiful sanctuary designed to worship God. Where better to hold a community service.
    2. Our sanctuary was Big enough to get everyone in the worship service.
    3. Presbyterians were part of the civic leadership, as we still are today.
    4. I find it no surprise that the Presbyterians either volunteered this sanctuary or agreed to use it when asked.
    5. That's how we do things.
b. In our time now, we are continuing in the tradition of those faithful Presbyterians from the 19th century who built this sanctuary and then used it to worship God.
    1. In fact, decisions have been made through the last 150+ years since this sanctuary was built that lead to our decision now.
            2. In the mid-20th century, the chapel was built and more Church school space was added.
            3.Through the last few decades of the 20th century property was purchased across Franklin St. and toward Main St. so that future expansion could take place.
            4. In the first decade of the 21st century, this congregation added a new Social Hall and renovated its offices and classrooms.
            5. At any of those junctures, the decision could have been made to leave downtown and go to another part of town.
            6. Other churches have made that decision.
            7. But, the Presbyterians have continually chosen to be a downtown presence where we God's people can gather to worship God; learn about God's Word; and minister to God's people in the world.
            8. The “Shining Our Light” capital campaign is about continuing that tradition.
Move 3: Vision grounded in our calling as God's people.
a. Visions in the biblical texts involve God speaking through the visions.
b. Peter and Cornelius in Acts
    1. Two men who have visions that draw them together.
    2. Visions that lead to a radical change in how the early church operates.
      b. the passage we read from Revelation shares a radical vision, as does much of the Book of Revelation.
            1. God has revealed to John a strange vision about how the early church must understand itself in a time of persecution.
            2. The specifics of the vision do not fit our situation, but it serves as a reminder that when we speak about vision, we invite God to share with us a plan for how to live as God's people in the world.
b. Exiles in Ezra were grounded in who they were as God's people.
    1. When asked by Tattenai their names, they decide that their personal names were not important.
    2. what was important is that they were servants of God.
c. Foundation for our capital campaign is our calling as God's people.
    1. This morning when you leave worship you will be given a packet that has tools to help you in this regard.
    2. A devotional guide
    2. Personal commitment guide.
    3. Prayer bookmark
    4. What we are doing collectively as a congregation and individually must grow out of our faith.
    5. We are each invited to make the “Shining Our Light” capital campaign a part of our faith journey.
    Conclusion: the hope, of course, is as we reflect on the foundations of our vision for this project, we will discover a vision that is different than the vision found at the star bar at Kodak Theater.
A vision that so grows out of our past commitment to serving God and so links to our calling as God's people in theIntroduction: Kodak Theater in LA where Academy Awards are held each year has a place where stars can gather. The glass is designed so that as you get closer, it is harder to see. From a distance, you can see the stars, but if you get to close, you cannot see them.
The vision is clear from the distance, but gets fuzzy as you get closer.
Over the last few months, I know many of you have herd about the different projects that are to be funded by our “shining the Light” capital campaign.
There have been questions and conversations around the different aspects of those projects.
Many of us have been taking a close look at the details of the project.
This morning I want us to step back a bit and reflect on the vision from more of a distance and be reminded of how this vision came into focus.
Move 1: Use the Ezra passage
a. As you may recall, the book of Ezra, and its sister book Nehemiah, tell the story of the exiles returning to Jerusalem.
    1. When Babylon conquered Jerusalem, many Israelites were sent into captivity.
    2. They literally were moved away from Jerusalem.
    3. Now after generations in exile, some Israelites have received permission from King Darius of Persia, the exiles have been allowed to return home to Jerusalem.
    4. And for some of them even more importantly, they are returning to Jerusalem with a vision to rebuild the Temple, the house of God that has been the center of their worship.
    5. The projects associated with our “shining our Light” campaign pale in comparison to the project confronting the returning exiles who have to rebuild the crumbling Temple that has been in disrepair for years.
b. Not everyone is happy about their return and their vision for a rebuilt Temple.
    1. The Ezra passage we read this morning is a portion of a letter that is considered to be a progress report, although it sounds a bit like a tattle-tale letter to the king to me.
    2. Tattenai, who opposes the rebuilding of the temple tries to get the Israelites in trouble by sharing what the Israelites said when he asked who gave them permission to build and what their name is.
    3. Apparently, when confronted the Israelites begin their explanation by announcing,"We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished."
5. That is the mandate they follow as they live out the vision of a rebuilt Temple – we are continuing in what our leaders have started and we are servants of God.
Move 2: Our vision grows out of our past.
a. In 1865 this sanctuary held the community wide service to mourn the death of President Abraham Lincoln.
    1. At his death, the city leaders of Troy gather to decide how to respond.
    2. Something like the religious and city leaders who gathered after 9/11 to determine a way for the community to respond.
    3. The civic leader asked every congregation to have a memorial service as part of their regularly scheduled Sunday worship.
    4. And, they decided to gather at the Presbyterian Church on Franklin street for a city wide memorial service.
    5. Here in this sanctuary.
      b. Why this place?
    1. For starters, it was a newly new beautiful sanctuary designed to worship God. Where better to hold a community service.
    2. Our sanctuary was Big enough to get everyone in the worship service.
    3. Presbyterians were part of the civic leadership, as we still are today.
    4. I find it no surprise that the Presbyterians either volunteered this sanctuary or agreed to use it when asked.
    5. That's how we do things.
b. In our time now, we are continuing in the tradition of those faithful Presbyterians from the 19th century who built this sanctuary and then used it to worship God.
    1. In fact, decisions have been made through the last 150+ years since this sanctuary was built that lead to our decision now.
            2. In the mid-20th century, the chapel was built and more Church school space was added.
            3.Through the last few decades of the 20th century property was purchased across Franklin St. and toward Main St. so that future expansion could take place.
            4. In the first decade of the 21st century, this congregation added a new Social Hall and renovated its offices and classrooms.
            5. At any of those junctures, the decision could have been made to leave downtown and go to another part of town.
            6. Other churches have made that decision.
            7. But, the Presbyterians have continually chosen to be a downtown presence where we God's people can gather to worship God; learn about God's Word; and minister to God's people in the world.
            8. The “Shining Our Light” capital campaign is about continuing that tradition.
Move 3: Vision grounded in our calling as God's people.
a. Visions in the biblical texts involve God speaking through the visions.
b. Peter and Cornelius in Acts
    1. Two men who have visions that draw them together.
    2. Visions that lead to a radical change in how the early church operates.
      b. the passage we read from Revelation shares a radical vision, as does much of the Book of Revelation.
            1. God has revealed to John a strange vision about how the early church must understand itself in a time of persecution.
            2. The specifics of the vision do not fit our situation, but it serves as a reminder that when we speak about vision, we invite God to share with us a plan for how to live as God's people in the world.
b. Exiles in Ezra were grounded in who they were as God's people.
    1. When asked by Tattenai their names, they decide that their personal names were not important.
    2. what was important is that they were servants of God.
c. Foundation for our capital campaign is our calling as God's people.
    1. This morning when you leave worship you will be given a packet that has tools to help you in this regard.
    2. A devotional guide
    2. Personal commitment guide.
    3. Prayer bookmark
    4. What we are doing collectively as a congregation and individually must grow out of our faith.
    5. We are each invited to make the “Shining Our Light” capital campaign a part of our faith journey.
    Conclusion: the hope, of course, is as we reflect on the foundations of our vision for this project, we will discover a vision that is different than the vision found at the star bar at Kodak Theater.
A vision that so grows out of our past commitment to serving God and so links to our calling as God's people in the present that it becomes crystal clear as we move closer toward that vision.