[This summer the minister invited people to request sermons based on scripture, a theme, or question they have. This one came from Joe who said he always had a hard time interpreting Job. Not sure this answered all his questions. BUT it did spin off another sermon for next week about the history and origins of Satan.]
You are the God of Love and we praise you. You are the light in the dark, hope in tragedy, calm in terror, and a promise in death. To you we turn when life seems to crumble and all is is shifting sand under beneath us. To you we lift our hymns, our prayers, and our worship. You are our God.
Be God. Sometimes we have a long list of things to be done by you: healing, forgiveness, fixes, and preventions. Hear in our lists part of a conversation about our values and priorities. Dear in our prayers that we trust you, that we look to you to make right what we can not influence. We trust you like our God, our prayers are for some sense that that you are there: alive, active, and love us. Our deepest prayer is that you love us and do not abandon us. Even in our imperfect understanding of what it means, we want you to be our God.
We pray to avoid the darkness and the tragedy, we want healing, forgiveness, and for things to be fixed. And yet Lord, we also hunger for you to be God in our daily lives, the ordinary bits of our existence.Be God in the beige times of life. Mold us then, strength our trust and increase our spiritual sense so we do not need you to confirm your love when the dankness of tragedy enters our lives. Yea Lord, maybe would not even see such times as tragedy if we already see you( your love and presence) already in the folds of time and circumstance. How often do we pray for our lists to be done? Truly Lord, all we really want is for you to be God, our God, and to know we are your beloved.
Lord, hear our prayers. Especially when our words do not convey them.
Vicki Eastman is reading the mornings scripture that is in bold. Mark Piton is interrupting.
When the day of Pentecost had come,
This was not the first Pentecost. This was the Jewish “Pentecost” called Shavout or the harvest Festival of Weeks.
they
The Apostles that is. They had just voted in Matthias as an Apostle to replace Judas who was not with them. The number 12 had been restored!
were all together in one place.
After all they were in Jerusalem and it was Pentecost! The other faithful had made a pilgrimage and were celebrating the Festival of Weeks and the day – Fifty days after the Passover – that Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. Fifty – Pente – days after the Exodus started.
And suddenly from heaven there came a sound
How do we know it came from heaven? Well, the events of the day will show that, but it was sudden, non-natural, and it is reminiscent of the pillar of smoke that led the Hebrews out of Egypt, the still small voice, the whirlwind, the spirit moving on the face of the deep. And the word “ruah” can be translated as wind or breath or spirit. So, yes the verse could say “a sound like the rush of a violent breath or spirit”. Instead, it is usually translated …
…came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
It touched everyone. But also notice how Luke, the writer of this, is not saying THAT is what it was. The sound was LIKE this. It was not THIS. It was LIKE it. He is getting ready to do the same thing with the next symbol of the day.
Divided tongues, as of fire,
AS of fire. NOT fire. Tongues AS if fire, like fire, like a rushing wind, as if it was – BUT it was not these things. Like them, but not them.
I think they got it.
Sorry
Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them,
Fire from heaven. How do we know this? It was sudden, non-natural and reminiscent the burning bush that did not consume the bush, of the pillar of fire that led the Hebrews out of Egypt at night, and the tongues of fire that destroy the rotten roots of those who reject God that Isaiah speaks about.
and a tongue rested on each of them.
Again they touched everyone. And this is getting ready for a bit of a pun, at least in English.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit
The Holy Breath the Holy Wind
and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
…they spoke in other tongues .. get it? … tongues of fire tongues of language…
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound
Not the sound of from all these pilgrim in Jerusalem but the sound that was LIKE a mighty wind or breath and the 12 speaking while lit up with tongues of Holy fire
the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.
Scholars have debated whether this is a miracle of the Apostles speaking in another language or if God did a miracle on the non-believers so they could hear in their own language. I can see where it makes a difference, but I am not sure it matters all that much.
Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
Galileans were not well regarded for intelligence.
And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?
This has been answered. Sounds and fire from heaven. The how doesn’t rely on humans.
Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”
All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
Always the question. Peter is getting ready to answer it.
But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Because there are always those who will dismiss what they do not understand or want to believe.
[Wait like a 5 count just staring at me.]
Would you like me to read it again without interruption? To let them get a sense of the flow or the story?
…That might be good…
I am reading this time from The Message paraphrase.
When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force – no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.
There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans?
How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?
Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene; both Jews and proselytes; Even Cretans and Arabs! “They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!” Their heads were spinning; they couldn’t make head or tail of any of it.
They talked back and forth, confused: “What’s going on here?”
Lord. We have volcanoes on our minds 10 more people murdered at a school on our hearts. We know there are wars around the world and other natural disasters, and we know there is illness, grief, and pain closer to home with us now. We want someting better in all these situations. We may pray for you to fix them, but we know we will have a part to flfill. We need help to meet our responsibilities. Help us.
Come Holy Spirit. Come.
Come as a wind of change when we ignore injustice so that we can have peace. Come and knock down the wall of ignorance, hatred, prejudice. Blow away the stench of racism, arrogance, pride, and pretension. Clear the choking smoke of lies, diversion, and division. Burn away the chaff of greed, the pedestal of power, and the idols of false gods that love injustice. Set fire and burn away the dross of “nice” and set fire to our hearts with passion for liberty and justice for all. We need help to set aside niceness and a desire for our own peace to become your prophets demanding justice, proclaiming what is right and wrong, Holy and profane,. Blow on the fires of our passion until we will accept only peace for all who would have it. In the light of that fire may we see your will on earth as it is in heaven.
Your earth is beautiful, Lord. No matter what, the earth moves from season to season. The earth is set in a course that flows from expression to expression – all Holy – all Holy.
May we find our flow – our course that moves us from holy moment to holy time – from beauty to season to you. Like the earth, may we move through our life seasons no matter what storm, cold, drought, or flood might slow us. Grant, creative One, that the certainty and surety from this trust gives us the calm we need to see you all around us. Let there be peace on earth and in our hearts.
Gentle us with your love. Calm our frantic worry that drives us too fast to touch holiness. Empty us of regret, remorse, resentments, fears, needs, and hurt. Empty us and fill us with your love – show us how to live with you, our neighbor, our enemy.
Your earth is beautiful. No matter what, the earth moves from holiness to holiness.
For Silent Prayer and Meditation:
“Some people would rather debate doctrine or beliefs or tradition or interpretation than actually do what Jesus said. It’s not rocket science. Just do it. Practice loving a difficult person or try forgiving someone. Give away some money. Tell someone thank you. Encourage a friend. Bless an enemy. Say, “I’m sorry.” Worship God. You already know more than you need to know.” John Ortberg
Yo! Still Speaking God, forgive how much we talk. It may be we fear the silence because you might speak what we do not want to hear. Forgive us when we use a lot of words because we do not know what to say or because we have do not have anything to say. Teach us how to pray.
Sometimes life seems difficult. Parents become sick and old, our kids do not always do as we would, cancer strikes, employment falters, and we just plain loose sight about why we pray. By habit we pray for healing and wholeness, stability and security, hope and faith. We pray, but we kinda assume that there will be no answer or the answer will be no. Generally we don’t hold that against you – but sometimes – sometimes we wonder if prayer matters, if you are there, if we are anything to you.
So remind us that sometimes the answer is yes and the cancer goes away or was never there – that chaos settles into order – that fears are unfounded and everything will be all right. Remind us that when we doubt, question, and need the extra effort that you will say yes – you will show your wounds and let us touch your pain.
Ah Lord.
Lord, how tenderly you are with us when we find our own way of praying the ancient prayer, “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.” Grant that when you answer our plea that, with Thomas, we will proclaim you are our Lord and God. With Thomas, may we proclaim your gospel Good News of love unending. We praise you, because in the silence of our doubt we sense your pain and we fear it was our pain.
Lord, the tomb is an odd place for us to find you: your hope, comfort, love, joy. It is a mysterious meeting place. As a portal between life and death, perhaps it is a perfect door for us to use to exit one life and enter a new life. But we will need you to go through. At any tomb we have traveled a sorrowful road and encountering death. We have trouble trusting we will find life and joy on that road. You bid us to go, but we expect only endings. Surprise us by showing that joy and sorrow, life and death are all bound up together: that for everything there is a season. Maybe this is Easter. Knowing that life knows death, but will not fear it. Maybe it is Easter knowing that joy holds hands with sorrow.
We hear this message and there is still fear in us. Lord, is this Easter too? Life triumphs, love conquers fear?
We are yours. We will allow mystery to be a part of it all as well. But for the hearts that mourn, sorrow, despair, are lonely and exhausted – let them find Easter. Grant they see Jesus risen and loving them. Grant the empty space in their life is filled with you. Help us to move into Easter.
Amen
You, O Lord, give us birds singing in the morning and the slow rising sun seen through icicles. There is a festival of blues in the sky and on the snow as the earth rotates to face the sun. It is all a wonder that makes it clear that the artist loves beauty. We praise your name, O beautiful God.
When next we wake and find a dank drizzle falling through dark cold morning, we will not cease our praise of you. We will find wonder in the small drops of water that descend and find comfort in the embrace of a hiding darkness. We will look out for a sun rising in someone’s soul or for a song of the dawn in our hearts. You name we will still praise for the earth is filled with your glory.
After the day progresses and bird songs give way to car sounds, after the snow is no longer a blank canvas for color but a danger to hip and pride – We will still sing your praise. Your gift and giving create constant changes, ever new opportunities to see creativity living and evolving. All praise to your Holy Name.
We look forward to praising your name for bringing the beauty of healing and wholeness to those that grieve, heal, recuperate or prepare for procedures.
Surely all the earth is filled with you glory. For the beautiful sights, we give our thanks. Create on O Lord. Let your works of beauty speak of your spirit when all mouths are opened in awe.
We make mistakes Lord. We are wrong and in the wrong. We are sorry for such times. But remember, O Lord, when we are not wrong – when we speak for justice, do the best thing, speak truth instead of the easy lie. Remember, and do not hold our errors and sin against us.
And Lord, when we are not in the right, remind us of your steadfast loving kindness, your desire to forgive and redeem. Remind us, because it is hard to admit such things – we want to be strong and righteous. This desire gets in the way of being honest. Help us to practice admitting our errors by speaking to you about them. You are patient – more patient and forgiving than we are with ourselves. You hold us in your warm embrace and make it all right – make us all right.
We do not like to admit we are wrong or in the wrong to strangers, friends, family. We defend, deflect, deny, and denigrate those in opposition. We act as if we can always be right, even though we know this is an act. It is so hard for us to say: “we are sorry”, “I was wrong”, or “I apologize”. Our need to be right and strong creates hurt in our relationships. And then we do not know how to heal that hurt.
Lord, make it as easy as possible to confess to you – trusting in your love and forgiveness. Let our confession remove our guilt; make us right enough that we can admit our wrong to those around us. Ease our fear of being honest and so heal our relationships.
Scripture was John 18: 1-27
Sermon title: Confession and Testimony
The prayer:
Sometimes Lord, we are like Moses – unsure what words to use. Give us hope that you will supply our words, even as you did for Moses. We do not know what to say when friends surprise us us with a certain side of a political issue or when colleagues express ideas we thought were discredited and dead. Help us to find words when people tell jokes that are or should be offensive. Silence isn’t good and speaking doesn’t seem to do any good. We need you wisdom.
Lord, we need your wisdom too when others find a way to suggest they can NOT agree with us on a political issue, idea or joke. Remind us that sometimes we are wrong. Do not let our hearts be hardened- holding onto something well passed the point that is good – or even understandable to have. Prepare us to be wrong. Again. We need your wisdom.
And God, we want to know what to say to comfort the grieving, encourage the diagnosed, or lesson the pain of tragedy. We care more than standard platitudes express. We need your wisdom.
Send our love and what words we have to those who grieve, struggle with healing, or a diagnoses.
We also want the right words when we come to you in prayer. Whether it is the heights of praise for creation, the depths of our guilt and sorrow, or the wideness of our need – we find our words lacking. We want to say more than our skill allows. Our hearts are full. Our heads are filled with words and our hearts are bursting with sighs to deep for human expression. Maybe you could ignore our heads and listen to our heart’s eloquence. We need your wisdom and to trust it.
ometimes life seems difficult. Parents become sick and old, our kids do not always do as we would, cancer strikes, employment falters, and we just plain loose sight about why we pray. By habit we pray for healing and wholeness, stability and security, hope and faith. We pray, but we kinda assume that there will be no answer or the answer will be no. Generally we don’t hold that against you – but sometimes – sometimes we wonder if prayer matters, if you are there, if we are anything to you.