​Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A

Have you seen reports lately of people yelling or acting in the most disturbing ways?  It's often people complaining about wearing a mask to protect others in public.  Or, sometimes it's people who are upset with those who are marching for justice.  The words shouted and the body language displayed reveals anger that feels consuming and dangerous.

In 1 Kings this morning, Elijah asks God to convince the people of God's power.  And in one swoop, a fire-ball disintegrates the wood, the stone, and evaporates the pool of water.  God chose to speak through action.

In 1 John, the early Christians are advised to discern carefully the prophets who claim to speak on God's behalf.  Test their spirits, because there are many false prophets who seek to lead God's people astray.

One lesson we can ponder today is to examine our own speech and actions.  What if people were looking at our actions, and what if people were listening to our words, in order to discover whether or not God and goodness were part of our lives?

Prayer and practice help us to train ourselves to reflect as much of God as we can.  We can model what we say and do after what we learn of Christ.  Be compassionate.  Show mercy.  Always be kind.  Be mindful of others.  Pray.  Speak truth to power.  Include everyone.  Take the time to connect.  See God in others.  What else can you learn from Jesus to help you to live a life reflective of his love?

A helpful acronym is T.H.I.N.K..  
Ask, is what I am saying:
True?
Helpful?
Inspiring?
Necessary?
Kind?

Let us continue the work to follow in the footsteps of Christ.  Maybe there is someone you could call or reach out to today to help you think about the way you T.H.I.N.K..

Peace,
Dean

​Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A

In-person worship at Wesley Park will resume August 2!*

*It will be a modified time of worship, in the Family Life Center, with masks and social distancing in place, pending no significant increase in coronavirus cases in our area.

Despite the asterisk, I am so happy to announce that we are getting closer to worshiping God together at church, as well as continuing with online worship, Wesley Park worship on WKTV each Tuesday at noon, and an option to listen to worship on your car radio in the parking lot through our own FM Transmitter.  You will be receiving a series of five letters between now and August 2 with guidelines and explanations.  The Joshua Task Force of Wesley Park has been hard at work to do all we can to provide a safe and worshipful time to celebrate and praise God.

Worshiping, celebrating, and praising God is the essence of the lectionary readings today.  When you break it down, worship is all about God.  Worship is not about us, worship is about God.  Worship is praising God for all that God has done, is doing, and will do.  It's clapping our hands for God.  Worship is learning how to be obedient to God even when we don't fully understand it all.  Worship is about practicing loving others because Jesus teaches us that love changes everything.  

What new insights about worship have you learned in these months since we last worshiped in person together?  What have you missed?  What have you enjoyed?  What are you looking forward to as you anticipate new ways of praising God in worship?

Peace,
Dean

​Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A

Do you ever get frustrated with others?  Have you ever had someone get on your last nerve?  Someone who never listens... someone who gossips... someone who is stubborn...  someone who doesn't seem to care, etc.  During those moments of extreme irritation perhaps you had a few choice words to say, maybe to nobody in particular, maybe under your breath, or just shouts into the abyss.  Paul has a good one in his letter to the Galatians.  He is so frustrated with people who, in his viewpoint, are not understanding how inclusive the church of Christ must be, he writes, "I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!"  Wow!  Tell us how you really feel, Paul!  Yikes.  

I found an article that suggests a three-point strategy when you feel like telling someone they should go and castrate themselves.  Give it a try the next time you get mad at somebody.  

Step1:  I am angry because _________ shouldn’t be__________________.

Step2:  I would prefer if __________________________________________.

Step 3:  Here’s what I can do about it  ____________________________________.


How do you think Paul would have filled in the blanks for these three statements?

Remember to take good care of yourself and others.  Wash your hands.  Wear a mask.  Practice Social Distancing.  Work for Justice.  Advocate for the oppressed.  Get lots of rest.  Love your neighbor.

Peace,
Dean

​Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A

Change is not easy.  When life changes we feel a little out of control.  We lose a sense of our place.  We are sometimes confused about our purpose.  A part of us might even wish for nothing to change, ever!  Keep things the way they always were so that my life isn't disrupted.  But we know that change is needed and inevitable.  

Change is needed because we are not "there" yet.  We do not live in a world filled with God's grace and the peace that Christ lived and died for.  We have not yet committed ourselves to racial justice.  The coronavirus continues to spread in part because we haven't as a society changed the way we think about caring for our neighbor.  The environment is all out of whack.  

The church from its very beginnings has struggled against change.  Paul realized the Gospel of Jesus Christ was for the whole world, not just for the children of Abraham who were distinguished by circumcision, the sign of the covenant.  When Paul said a person didn't have to be circumcised to be a follower of Jesus he was run out of town.  This proves the point that we do not have God's wisdom or depth of grace.  God is ever-expanding our understanding of the community of faith and expecting us to care for and about more and more of our neighbors.  

We can go into this ever-changing world kicking and screaming, demanding that nothing is moved and nothing is done to make us uncomfortable.  Or we can embrace God's wondrous plan.  We can confront racism, change unjust systems, expand our sense of community, make new relationships, and let love of others be our guiding principle. 

Take some time today to write down the changes you have experienced in your lifetime.  Were they scary to go through?  What lessons did you learn from them?  How do you deal with change in the church and change in the world?

Peace,
Dean

​Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A

Parousia.  It's a Greek word that means the time of Christ's return.  There was an understanding directly following the ascension that Jesus would appear again.  In this second coming, the world would be transformed into the Reign of God where peace would prevail.  Those who followed Jesus were sent into a hostile world to call people into repentance and preach the Gospel.  They went expecting to be persecuted.  The words of Christ in the Gospel of Matthew this morning encourage those who are being persecuted to flee to the next town.  And, before they had fled to all the towns in the area, the Son of Man would return.

Of course, in many ways, the early Christians discovered the Parousia had been delayed.  Jesus did not immediately return.  The city of Jerusalem fell under siege and was destroyed in the year 70.  

It became important to write down the oral history and preserve the Gospel for the generations who would follow.  The Gospel of Mark was written around the year 70.  Matthew and Luke were written around the year 85.  And, the Gospel of John was written down around the year 100.  

Try reading the Gospels through the lens of a violent suppression of a peasant uprising.  Even in this context, the Gospels point us toward God who overwhelms evil with love.  Jesus sends the twelve out with his peace.  He encourages his followers to persevere through the suffering.  God has a plan for this world that is bigger than what we see through our windows.  We need to work for it through repentance, forgiveness, grace, peace, the pursuit of justice, and blessings.  

We are not alone in this chaotic and life-giving work.  In many ways, Christ has returned through the Holy Spirit.  We are joined in the world by the presence of God who equips us all to build up a new creation by loving our neighbor.

One way we can do this is to work to dismantle racism throughout the world.  Tune in today at 1 pm on Facebook for a United Methodist Service of Lament.  Then, let's wade into the suffering with the hope and assurance that we carry with us Christ's peace and love.

Peace,
Dean

Something A Little Different

I love the morning discipline of reading the daily lectionary texts, praying, and reflecting.  Sometimes, the Spirit points you in a different direction as a focus, and I try to trust that.  

One of the things that we have had to go without during this pandemic is the church potluck.  Meals at the church bring us together socially.  The table creates lasting friendships and full bellies.  We are reminded of Jesus who gathered to break bread with friends.  When we extend the table and share a meal we get a glimpse of God’s hope for the world. Laura Szczpanek has always given so much of her time and talents to feed her church family.  I imagine gathering to share a meal at the church is something you have missed.

Take a look at these websites, articles, and videos about United Methodists and food.  

https://www.umc.org/en/what-we-believe/umc-topics/our-people/our-united-methodist-table

What are your favorite dishes to cook and to share?  Is there a dish that makes you think of someone in particular?  Maybe that could be something to fix this week while lifting prayers of thanksgiving. Consider sending a few recipes to a friend.  Or, call someone up and agree to talk about cooking and food!  Try something different today. As you say grace, remember and give thanks. 

Peace,
Dean

Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A

I want to send out my reflection for June 22 now, the evening of June 21.  Immediately following worship and virtual coffee hour, I received word that my Aunt Lois had passed away.  I drove to my parent's house to let my Mom and Dad know personally.  Lois was my mom's oldest sister and last living sibling.  She lived in San Diego.  Her son Brent was with her throughout the night.  Even though you know death is coming, it is still difficult to bear when the news of death arrives.  

This afternoon we shared tears and memories.  We sat in silence with the reality of death and then entered into the healing balm of life stories.  I am thankful for my Aunt Lois.  She was a friend as well as a sister to my mom.  She was present in our lives.  She laughed and loved, even through the pain of life.

When I returned home I read the lectionary text for tomorrow.  God seems to give us hope through the Word when we are most in need.  My heart was drawn to the last sentence in the Revelation reading: "To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God."  A return back to the Garden of Eden.  Our end is our beginning when there is finally a deeper understanding of the "what", "why", and "how."  I am strengthened knowing that my Aunt Lois's eyes are clearer and stronger and able to see what was previously unseeable.  

I am also strengthened by your prayers for my Mom and Dad.  I know that your love will help them in this time of grieving.  Thank you for the comfort your hearts provide.

Peace,
Dean

Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A

Tuesday, we reflected on the deaths of Sarah and Abraham.  We stood at the edge of the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites, and we remembered those we love and praised God for their lives.

Today, Hebrews reminds us that God sent Jesus to live our human existence, a little lower than the angels.  He experienced this life with the pain, confusion, and chaos that comes in a world such as ours.  He also knew the joy and celebrations and blessings that living in a community in this world can bring.  He suffered, and he died.  Jesus was not only divine but also human.  He died.  He experienced what we all someday will experience, that passage from this life into the next, that transition from earth to heaven.  Jesus died so that we could have life now and then.  

So today, let us stand at the foot of the cross and praise God for Jesus, who died, was buried, and rose to prepare the way for all of us when we come to the end of this life.  Let us go to the garden and look upon the stone rolled away from the tomb.  Jesus has blessed our lives and our deaths.  He has given us life, everlasting.  Let us praise him today.

Peace,
Dean