Ecclesiological Etchings: 01-31-15

Scripture: Acts 9:28
So Paul went in and out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

Thought for the Day: William Sloane Coffin, in his book “Letters to a Young Doubter,” talked about a conversation with some rather arrogant folks who brushed off the whole idea of religion. Bill couldn’t remain quiet, so he said, “‘I can understand doubting the quality of the bread, but I can’t see kidding yourself that you’re not hungry–unless, of course, your soul has so shriveled up that you have no more appetite left for the great mysteries of life…  And that’s what I think has happened to so many of you…’  At that point, two wives who had come along started to clap.”  I would like to suggest that Christians need to be cautious about their approach so not to be seen as arrogant or dismissive of other ideas, yet there are times when we need to speak boldly.

Prayer: O God of love and justice, provide me a passion for the Gospel message so I may speak fearlessly.  Amen.

TOMORROW’S WORSHIP
8:15, 9:30 &11:00

Ecclesiological Etchings: 01-30-15

Scripture: 1st Peter 4:10
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.

Thought for the Day: I’m excited for Sunday, and it’s not just because someone else is preaching. In fact, three other people are preaching. Don’t get nervous, they’ve been working on it and I’m sure it won’t be three 20-minutes sermons. But I love the tradition of Laity Sunday within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It gives us the opportunity to remember our history, specifically those congregations started along the frontier. At the time, we were the fastest growing denomination (we didn’t refer to ourselves as denomination yet) on U.S. soil. This happened, in part, because of our willingness to empower lay leaders to serve as preachers, teachers and ministers of the sacraments (baptism and communion). On the growing edge of the frontier, churches of every denominational stripe were being built, but often they did not have a minister to serve within the building. Our tradition was doing full services, with the ‘sacraments’ (we call the ordinances), before the roof was even on the building. A lot of our growth was connected to the impatience of people in other churches, but it also came from a growing appreciation of a church that celebrated the gifts of all people. This Sunday, Shane Burks, Marshall Martin and Ray Miller will be our preachers and worship guides. Jimmy Jacobson will provide music, including directing the choir at the 11:00 service. I give thanks for both their gifts and their willingness to share these gifts… along the hundreds of others at Cypress Creek Christian Church who do the same every week.

Prayer: For all the many gifts you have given, O God of Grace, we are grateful. Let us be mindful of how each gift can be used to serve our sisters and brothers, whether they are currently neighbors or enemies. Amen.

THIS SUNDAY MORNING

Worship at 8:15, 9:30 & 11:00

Ecclesiological Etchings: 01-29-15

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-3
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Thought for the Day: CS Lewis wrote in the book, The Four Loves:

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken… Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the sake or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket…it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation.

How many shield themselves from the possibility of hurt, hiding in this safe or coffin as Lewis suggests? If we think through all the possible negatives that vulnerability can bring, we will most certainly seek the cautious, secure and boring path of life. Yet Lewis will go on and suggest that there is only one place free of tragedy, and that is heaven. This other – this self imposed hell – may appear free of tragedy and suffering, but a life lived without vulnerability (and thus, love) is an immense tragedy and the greatest source of suffering.

Prayer: Though some may call it foolish, let me risk loving as you love, O Lord. Help me accept the possibility of rejection and suffering so that I may do your will and find the fullness of life as Jesus did in his mission of perilous love. Amen.

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Ecclesiological Etchings: 01-28-15

Scripture: Mark 5:35-36
While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”

Thought for the Day: Yesterday I was reading an article on Christian Century’s website entitled: Believe it or not. It was written by Amy Frykholm. It begins this way:

Long before I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church, I told my priest that I had no problems with the Nicene Creed except for those two little words at the beginning, “We believe.” I loved reciting “God from God, light from light, true God from true God.” I liked saying “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church” because that claim seems to fly in the face of all our disagreements and declare an impossible but longed-for unity. I joined the church I did because of its connection to historical Christianity, but also because it was drawn together less by theological doctrine than by the worship tradition of the Book of Common Prayer. I felt the church would challenge and root me, but also offer freedom. Yet I have struggled to make sense of the words “we believe.”

In my Wednesday afternoon class, we have referenced many of the great debates (or outright fights) on the theological concept we call Trinity. Many of the Creeds were an attempt to solve the deep divisions, but almost always, the Creeds created even more conflict. These conflicts were often centered in the requirement that everyone had to “believe” the Creedal statements word for word. I appreciate where Amy Frykholm concluded her article:

Butler Bass points out that the English word believe comes from belieben, which is from the German word for love. Instead of referring to something like “an opinion one holds to be true,” belieben refers to something treasured or held to be beloved. What one believes is what has been invested with one’s love. If we were to stand up and say, “We be-love God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth,” we might inch closer to an understanding of my own way of believing.

CLICK HERE for the article

Prayer: God whose very essence I seek to know, please help me grow in my knowledge of you, but more important, my relationship with you. Amen.

DON’T FORGET…
Wednesday Studies
The Trinity at Noon
Islam at 6:30pm

Ecclesiological Etchings: 01-27-15

Scripture: Psalm 36:5-6
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.

Thought for the Day: I was fascinated to read that NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope discovered an Earth-sized planet in what is called the habitable zone.  It is approximately 500 light-years from Earth, so there won’t be any personal visit in the near future. By describing it as existing in the habitable zone (defined as the approximate distance from a star for liquid water to exist), this does not mean there is life on the planet or that life could exist. There are many other factors involved, but my imagination begins to throw cartwheels of excitement at just the thought. The author of the Psalm suggests that the Lord’s love extends to the heavens, a metaphor that attempts to speak of the boundless nature of love. If love knows no limits, yet love is only known in relationship, then I can only imagine that love both exists and is known in many other places and dimensions. If not, it seems like a lot of wasted love.

Prayer: I stand in awe before the beauty and power of your love, O Lord who is the Source of life and love. Though I cannot fathom the limitless nature of your love, I pray that I will be able to both know and share that love within my own corner of the universe. Amen.

TOMORROW…

Ecclesiological Etchings: 01-26-15

Scripture: Mark 1:40-41
A leper came to Jesus begging him, and kneeling he said to him, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!”

Thought for the Day: There are few words as beautiful or hope-filled as those we find in this passage from Mark’s Gospel…specifically the words: “Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him…” From our vantage point, I don’t think we initially appreciate just how unnerving those words would have been to people living in the first century. Leprosy was a serious disease, but the misconceptions and misinformation around the disease created an intense but unnecessary fear. This fear led to the development of a social system that not only perpetuated the fear, but put into motion very specific rules that governed what was and was not acceptable for those with leprosy. To hear that Jesus approached this man who was regarded as unclean would have been scandalous, but then to hear that Jesus actually touched him would have been outright criminal…unless you were the leper. And for the one with leprosy and all those throughout history who have been declared unclean – in one fashion or another – these few words would have been among some of the most beautiful and hope-filled.

Prayer: For your grace, O Mighty God, I give you thanks. Allow its blessings to spill over all of us, especially in those moments when the world has made us feel unclean and unworthy. Amen.

Continuing This Wednesday

Ecclesiological Etchings: 01-25-15

Scripture: Mark 1:30-31
Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

Thought for the Day: Simon (Peter) had a mother-in-law. It’s interesting, years ago I played a game of Bible Trivia, and the question I received was: Was St. Peter married? I thought about it for a minute, and then answered in the affirmative. My response was based upon my recollection of this passage, though without any explanation, the Bible Trivia game said it was False.  There is often room for interpretation, but as far as I know, there is only one way to have a mother-in-law.

There is no mention of Simon’s wife, and it could be that she was deceased or simply not around. Whatever the case, Simon had a deep concern for his wife’s mother, and for that reason, he brought Jesus to her. How many of us are bringing Jesus to those who need him? How often do we wait for people to name their need for Jesus instead of proactively bringing him into their situation through our words and actions? Let’s strive to bring the living Christ alongside anyone whose life circumstance yearns for his healing love and compassionate touch.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for all those who have brought Jesus to me. May my life witness do the same for others. Amen.

Lilies of the Field
(Women’s Ministry)

The women’s gathering is this Sunday,
January 25th, at 3 pm.
Cindy Rhodes is presenting,
and the theme is:

“Get Moving and Get Healthy”.

Don’t miss it!!

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New Offering Envelopes
available in
The Lobby of the Sanctuary

Ecclesiological Etchings: 01-24-15

Scripture: Mark 1:38
At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Thought for the Day: In a time before press agents, Facebook and a 24 hour news cycle, the idea of someone’s fame spreading quickly was extraordinary. Word would have been shared in the market places, among extended families, and in the town squares. Yet what would people have been saying? To this point in the story, Jesus had taught good news and healed a tormented spirit. When was the last time news about Jesus was shared enthusiastically in Kroger’s, the Bush Intercontinental Airport as families reunited, and down at City Hall? I would suggest the news of Jesus remains just as exciting as it was around 30AD, yet something has changed. Could it be that the church – the body of Christ – is no longer teaching good news and restoring the broken spirits within our community?

Prayer: Powerful and Loving God, provide your renewing spirit within those who desire to see your name spread again throughout our community. Amen.

TOMORROW

Ecclesiological Etchings: 01-23-15

Scripture: Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thought for the Day: This is the same passage I used yesterday, but in rereading it, I was reminded of a funeral I did a few years back. In that service, I described the deceased as a no-boundary kind of guy. His love and acceptance knew no limits. In recent years, I have met more and more of these kinds of people, and like the deceased, they did not involve themselves with the church. I don’t want to give the impression that no such people are found in the church, for that would not be true.  Yet more people are choosing to follow the ways of Jesus without the assistance of the church.  What is it about the church that in these people’s minds is a hindrance to following Jesus?  Let us reclaim a vision of being the community where people experience, learn and are sent forth to share a no-boundary kind of love – the love so beautiful revealed in the life of Jesus.

Prayer: Since there is nothing that can separate your love from my life, O God, may my life demonstrate a love that reveals only welcome and brings about only healing.  Amen.

TOMORROW

SATURDAY

TDCJ Training
for those interested
in prison ministry

Registration starts at 8am
Class from 9am – 1pm

Lilies of the Field

(Women’s Ministry)

The women’s gathering is this Sunday,
January 25th, at 3 pm.
Cindy Rhodes is presenting,
and the theme is:
“Get Moving and Get Healthy”.

Don’t miss it!!

NEW

Offering
Envelopes

Available Now

Ecclesiological Etchings: 01-22-15

Scripture: Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thought for the Day: Today, I grieve the death of a great man, scholar and Christian.  Marcus Borg died yesterday after a lengthy illness. He is one of the voices among Christian scholars who has – through his books and lectures – encouraged me to think differently about the life of Jesus, and in turn, invited me to embrace Christ’s radical call upon my life. In his book, Speaking Christian, Borg writes:

“So, is there an afterlife, and if so, what will it be like? I don’t have a clue. But I am confident that the one who has buoyed us up in life will also buoy us up through death. We die into God. What more that means, I do not know. But that is all I need to know.”

I love the words, “But that is all I need to know,” though I would suggest that today Marcus Borg has come to fully know the God he trusted to buoy him up through life and death.

Prayer: Guide me with your grace, O Lord, through life and death and life again. Amen.

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Lilies of the Field
(Women’s Ministry)

The women’s gathering
is Sunday this Sunday,
January 25th, at 3 pm.
Cindy Rhodes is presenting, and the theme is:
“Get Moving and Get Healthy”.

Don’t miss it!!