This week a number of our members are enjoying a wonderful Caribbean cruise, among them Senior Pastor Rev. Karen Thompson, MCCA Board Vice-moderator Denice Bain, and Focus8 team leader Adama Brown. All are supposed to be a enjoying a well-earned week of rest and relaxation soaking up the sun in the Caribbean, sipping Mai Tais by the pool, and dropping a few bucks in the on-board casino.But some of our members are frankly dubious that these committed, multitasking leaders can actually go a week without obsessing about church business.
Some folks have wagered over $2000 that the intrepid three can't restrain themselves from discussing the business of MCC Austin at least once during the course of their week on the high seas. In this case, it's literally true that "Loose lips sink S.H.I.P.S.'' (Significant Hushmoney Infusion Possible from Silence).The money goes into the church coffers, so stakes are high.
Rumor has it that the Board, concerned at the potential loss of this windfall, has outfitted other MCCA members on the cruise with a tranquilizer gun and a roll of duct tape, with orders to deploy them at the first glimpse of a budget projection or a strategic planning document.So I ask that you be in prayer this week that all of our cruisers have a wonderful, safe and restful time in the Caribbean, that things go smoothly here at MCC Austin in their absence, and that Karen, Denice and Adama manage to keep their mouths shut. It's only a week!
Many preachers preface their sermons with this verse from Psalm 19: "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord.'' But before she left, I suggested to Karen that she consider a slight modification as the guiding prayer for this voyage: "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart ... stay there.''
Blessings,
Bill Young
Assistant Pastor
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Twenty Questions
My sermon title for this week is "20 Questions," and not surprisingly, I've been thinking about questions a lot. This sermon title was inspired by our Gospel reading from Matthew 22:34-46 in which a group of Pharisees asks questions of Jesus to "test" him. You know, there's just no way that can turn out well!
Now I don't mean to imply that it's not a good idea to ask questions of Jesus. I believe bringing all of ourselves-our joy, fear, anger, confusion, doubts, devotion, and questions- to God is our most faithful response to God's love and grace. But there's something to be said for how and why we pose our questions to God. In the 22nd chapter of Matthew, both the Sadducees and the Pharisees take turns trying to trick Jesus into offering false witness, for they've already decided he's dangerous, and they're plotting to kill him. That's their sole purpose, to offer him a test which they want him to fail.
If that's the motivation behind the questions we pose to God, then I would say that our questions are not any more faithful than those of the Sadducees and the Pharisees. But I don't think it is. When we ask our questions of God, I believe it's most often in the attempt to know and be known by God more deeply than before. Questions, often, are simply our way of staying in conversation with God. In fact, I don't think we'd even bother with our questions if we weren't certain that ultimately, God will never fail us.
I hope between now and our worship this weekend, you will spend time talking with God and asking your questions. Then bring the ones you have left to church with you. You and your questions are always welcome here.
Blessings...
Now I don't mean to imply that it's not a good idea to ask questions of Jesus. I believe bringing all of ourselves-our joy, fear, anger, confusion, doubts, devotion, and questions- to God is our most faithful response to God's love and grace. But there's something to be said for how and why we pose our questions to God. In the 22nd chapter of Matthew, both the Sadducees and the Pharisees take turns trying to trick Jesus into offering false witness, for they've already decided he's dangerous, and they're plotting to kill him. That's their sole purpose, to offer him a test which they want him to fail.
If that's the motivation behind the questions we pose to God, then I would say that our questions are not any more faithful than those of the Sadducees and the Pharisees. But I don't think it is. When we ask our questions of God, I believe it's most often in the attempt to know and be known by God more deeply than before. Questions, often, are simply our way of staying in conversation with God. In fact, I don't think we'd even bother with our questions if we weren't certain that ultimately, God will never fail us.
I hope between now and our worship this weekend, you will spend time talking with God and asking your questions. Then bring the ones you have left to church with you. You and your questions are always welcome here.
Blessings...
Thursday, October 16, 2008
A Church Without Walls
I am so looking forward to our worship services this weekend and a chance to explore together our vision of becoming A Church Without Walls.
Before we focus on our vision, though, I thought it might be helpful to share a little bit about what we mean when we talk about our vision and to share a little of the history of our vision discerning process.
MCC Austin's understanding of vision was largely informed by Thomas G. Bandy's book Moving Off the Map. Bandy says that a vision is "a song in the heart. It is a metaphor or symbol, a rhythm or tune, a picture or experience, the mere presentation of which elicits spontaneous joy and excitement. Vision speaks to the heart, not the mind."
That's pretty lofty!
Bandy then goes on to explain key criteria of a meaningful vision. First, visions aren't created by humans, he cautions, but by God. Humans are faced with the task of discerning God's vision for them.
Second, Bandy points out that vision statements are threatening statements. "Core values and bedrock beliefs help define who you are, but authentic vision will change who you are," Bandy says.
Third, Bandy warns that vision can never be fully expressed in words. In order to fully present our vision, he says, we must "transcend mere words to express the raw enthusiasm or emotional power that leads us to take real risks."
Can you imagine the anxiety those words cause me as I prepare a sermon on our vision? (This is where I would insert a smile but it might not appear very dignified.)
The truth is, I don't mind taking the risk necessary to get at the heart of our vision at all--as long as you're with me and we're all aware that the vision belongs to God, who blesses us with it.
See You in Worship...
Before we focus on our vision, though, I thought it might be helpful to share a little bit about what we mean when we talk about our vision and to share a little of the history of our vision discerning process.
MCC Austin's understanding of vision was largely informed by Thomas G. Bandy's book Moving Off the Map. Bandy says that a vision is "a song in the heart. It is a metaphor or symbol, a rhythm or tune, a picture or experience, the mere presentation of which elicits spontaneous joy and excitement. Vision speaks to the heart, not the mind."
That's pretty lofty!
Bandy then goes on to explain key criteria of a meaningful vision. First, visions aren't created by humans, he cautions, but by God. Humans are faced with the task of discerning God's vision for them.
Second, Bandy points out that vision statements are threatening statements. "Core values and bedrock beliefs help define who you are, but authentic vision will change who you are," Bandy says.
Third, Bandy warns that vision can never be fully expressed in words. In order to fully present our vision, he says, we must "transcend mere words to express the raw enthusiasm or emotional power that leads us to take real risks."
Can you imagine the anxiety those words cause me as I prepare a sermon on our vision? (This is where I would insert a smile but it might not appear very dignified.)
The truth is, I don't mind taking the risk necessary to get at the heart of our vision at all--as long as you're with me and we're all aware that the vision belongs to God, who blesses us with it.
See You in Worship...
Thursday, October 9, 2008
When God Gets Away
Our scripture passage for worship together this weekend comes from Exodus 32:1-6. Most of you will recognize this story after reading only a couple of verses. You will probably remember several sermons you've heard on the passage, too. In fact, some of you might be tempted to stay home this weekend rather than hear another sermon about all the idols we sinful humans turn toward when we turn away from God.
Don't do it. I promise you, this will not be a sermon about placing money, liesure, people, or success above God in your life.
This time through the story of the golden calf, I intend for us to take a more lenient look at the people Israel. What were they really asking for when they confronted Aaron?
Many translations of this story begin with the people saying something like this to Aaron: "Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us..." Immediately, our monotheistic monitors go off! What? Gods? Plural? Have these people so quickly forgotten that they are the children of one God? The God who freed them from captivity in Egypt and asked nothing more of them than to paint the doorposts and lentils with a lamb's blood?
It would seem that they have...
But wait. Look at the verses as they are written under the "Worship for Sunday, October 12" section. These verses are taken from the Jewish Study Bible, the Jewish Publication Society Tanakh translation. Notice that the people say, "Make us a god who shall go before us..." The annotation for this verse admits that many commentators choose the plural here, but it then goes on to state that it is more likely that what the people actually wanted was not other gods, but "something that would serve as a new means of securing God's Presence." This makes sense if you remember that the whole reason for the people's panic is that Moses, the one who has represented God's presence to them, has left them and been gone for forty days. It's possible that the people didn't want many gods or even any god, but that they wanted reassurance of the presence of the God of Israel.
Think about it. They were homeless, wandering in the desert, and uncertain of tomorrow. They had been abandoned by their spiritual leader, and they were afraid that God had left them as well.
Ever been there? Ever been desperate to know that God has not gone away? That you are not alone? Ever felt the need for reassurance that God is with you? Ever been afraid, lost, anxious, lonely?
My answers? Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.
If you've ever answered yes to any of these questions, come worship with us this weekend. I don't promise you easy answers, magic words, or even revelations. But I do promise you this: Whenever two or more of us gather in God's name, God is with us.
O Come, Emmanuel!
Don't do it. I promise you, this will not be a sermon about placing money, liesure, people, or success above God in your life.
This time through the story of the golden calf, I intend for us to take a more lenient look at the people Israel. What were they really asking for when they confronted Aaron?
Many translations of this story begin with the people saying something like this to Aaron: "Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us..." Immediately, our monotheistic monitors go off! What? Gods? Plural? Have these people so quickly forgotten that they are the children of one God? The God who freed them from captivity in Egypt and asked nothing more of them than to paint the doorposts and lentils with a lamb's blood?
It would seem that they have...
But wait. Look at the verses as they are written under the "Worship for Sunday, October 12" section. These verses are taken from the Jewish Study Bible, the Jewish Publication Society Tanakh translation. Notice that the people say, "Make us a god who shall go before us..." The annotation for this verse admits that many commentators choose the plural here, but it then goes on to state that it is more likely that what the people actually wanted was not other gods, but "something that would serve as a new means of securing God's Presence." This makes sense if you remember that the whole reason for the people's panic is that Moses, the one who has represented God's presence to them, has left them and been gone for forty days. It's possible that the people didn't want many gods or even any god, but that they wanted reassurance of the presence of the God of Israel.
Think about it. They were homeless, wandering in the desert, and uncertain of tomorrow. They had been abandoned by their spiritual leader, and they were afraid that God had left them as well.
Ever been there? Ever been desperate to know that God has not gone away? That you are not alone? Ever felt the need for reassurance that God is with you? Ever been afraid, lost, anxious, lonely?
My answers? Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.
If you've ever answered yes to any of these questions, come worship with us this weekend. I don't promise you easy answers, magic words, or even revelations. But I do promise you this: Whenever two or more of us gather in God's name, God is with us.
O Come, Emmanuel!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary, MCC and MCC Austin! As we move toward the 40th anniversary of MCC Churches and the 33rd anniversary of MCC Austin, I want to personally invite you to spend your weekend with your faith family here at Freedom Oaks.
On Friday night, we'll gather at 7:00 to listen to MCC Austin's 6:24 Band and then watch Call Me Troy, the biographical film about Rev. Troy Perry, founder of Metropolitan Community Churches. If you saw the movie at last year's Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival, you know that Troy Perry's life story is incredibly moving and affirming, and you'll probably want to see it again. If you didn't see it last year, I hope you will give yourself the gift of watching it with us on Friday night. I believe you'll leave the sanctuary feeling like God has whispered a love letter right to you through the mouth of Rev. Perry.
On Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m., Rev. David Bieniek will preside over our annual Blessing of the Animals service. We plan to hold the service outside under the oaks, and we will again be giving St. Francis medallions to every beloved pet. If you have pets that you cannot bring to the church, bring a picture or other memento and we will be happy to bless them in absentia.
On Saturday @ 6:24 and at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, we will gather together and raise a joyful noise, a shout you could say, to God in our worship. Our scripture for the weekend is Joshua 6, and I will be sharing how I see the stories of Israel's bringing down the walls of Jericho, Troy Perry's founding of MCC Churches, and MCC Austin's history intertwining. If you have the time and interest, I encourage you to read the first 6 chapters of the book of Joshua so that you can have a fuller understanding of the events that led up to the fall of Jericho.
Please spend the weekend with us and lend your voice to our celebratory shouts!
Hosanna and Hallelujah!
On Friday night, we'll gather at 7:00 to listen to MCC Austin's 6:24 Band and then watch Call Me Troy, the biographical film about Rev. Troy Perry, founder of Metropolitan Community Churches. If you saw the movie at last year's Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival, you know that Troy Perry's life story is incredibly moving and affirming, and you'll probably want to see it again. If you didn't see it last year, I hope you will give yourself the gift of watching it with us on Friday night. I believe you'll leave the sanctuary feeling like God has whispered a love letter right to you through the mouth of Rev. Perry.
On Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m., Rev. David Bieniek will preside over our annual Blessing of the Animals service. We plan to hold the service outside under the oaks, and we will again be giving St. Francis medallions to every beloved pet. If you have pets that you cannot bring to the church, bring a picture or other memento and we will be happy to bless them in absentia.
On Saturday @ 6:24 and at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, we will gather together and raise a joyful noise, a shout you could say, to God in our worship. Our scripture for the weekend is Joshua 6, and I will be sharing how I see the stories of Israel's bringing down the walls of Jericho, Troy Perry's founding of MCC Churches, and MCC Austin's history intertwining. If you have the time and interest, I encourage you to read the first 6 chapters of the book of Joshua so that you can have a fuller understanding of the events that led up to the fall of Jericho.
Please spend the weekend with us and lend your voice to our celebratory shouts!
Hosanna and Hallelujah!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
