Dear friends,

I am thankful for the prayer-filled leadership of Bishop David Bard.  Let us encourage one another to continue to do the work of Christ in the world and to be patient and faithful as we head into the week of the election.

​Bishop David Bard:
This week our nation will engage in one of the fundamental practices in our political democracy, voting. It is not the only important practice that keeps a democracy healthy and vibrant, but it is a critical practice. As the late congressman John Lewis once wrote: “The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democracy.”
Like many of you, I have already cast my ballot, and trust ballots that were mailed or dropped off will be safely and accurately counted. I encourage you if you’ve not already done so, to vote. When you vote, let the moral principles of our Christian faith inform your discernment.  In saying this, I understand that though we share a common faith in Jesus Christ and the same Scriptures, we may draw different conclusions about how best to express our faith in our political choices. I want to say simply and clearly, vote.
Given this election’s contentiousness and the swirl of statements about the voting process itself, many of them half-truths if they even rise to that level of credibility. It is important to acknowledge the likelihood that final election results may not be known on election day. In a society that has come to expect quick responses, or at least annoyingly soothing music while all representatives are currently assisting other customers, we are not very skilled at waiting.


” … no matter the election results, we ought to expect neither the imminent arrival of the kingdom of God nor the apocalypse.”


I want to encourage patience with our election process. I also want to remind us that no matter the election results, we ought to expect neither the imminent arrival of the kingdom of God nor the apocalypse. The long work of justice, compassion, peacemaking, reconciliation, and love may be enhanced by those we elect or made more difficult, but know this, that long work to which we are committed by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord will continue.
In 1963, in the midst of an earlier intense struggle for civil rights for African-Americans, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel sent a telegram to then-President John F. Kennedy, which ended with these words: “the hour calls for high moral grandeur and spiritual audacity.” So, too, does this hour.
Let us pray.
God of change and glory, God of time and space, as we face the future, give to us your grace, grace that we embody as patience as we wait for election results — letting your love cast out our fear, grace that we embody as hope – trusting your on-going redemptive presence in our world, grace that we embody as determined courage to continue your work of justice, compassion, peacemaking, reconciliation, and love.  Indeed, this hour calls for moral grandeur and spiritual audacity. It calls for people deeply formed by your grace and love. Empower us to be such people. No matter the results of an election, your work in the world continues, and we want to be part of it.  In the name and Spirit of Jesus.  Amen.

​Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A

There is a thread that ties the readings together this morning.  Follow the whole law.  It's not enough to follow the aspects of the law that are easy and ignore the more difficult parts.  It's not sufficient to pick and choose the commandments that are most convenient.  That's like getting pulled over for running a stop sign and arguing that you were at least driving the speed limit.  

Of course, we often put on our lawyer hats when we think about the laws.  We argue that cheating on our taxes is not actually stealing if we don't get caught.  We wrestle with the scope of murder as we weigh the costs and benefits of war.  We might even stretch the concept of honoring father and mother when they tell us to go to bed during the World Series game but we stay up to watch the end.  Justified?  We like to argue that the law has wiggle room.

But Jesus takes it one step further.  Not only are we to follow the law, but our hearts must be committed to the love of God.  What might pull us away from God?  Where might our allegiance be divided?  Jesus was not as much concerned with what you can get away with if you stretch the law.  He recognized that the purpose of the law was to keep us in relationship with God and one another.  If money or jealousy or racism or pride or anything else pulls us away from God and neighbor, we are not following the whole law.

So, take some time to think about your focus and commitments.  What is bringing you closer to God?  How are you building up the Kingdom of Heaven on earth?  What is pulling you away from God?  What is causing you to turn you back on God and others?  We are not alone as we struggle with this.  Call someone and talk together about these tensions.  Help one another and hold each other accountable to loving in full and not in part.

Peace,
Dean

​Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A

James 2:14-26

Faith without works is dead.  It's not enough to simply say we have faith in Christ.  That faith calls us to action.  In what ways are you not only believing, but also living out your faith?  

Today is my birthday.  Yes, I turned 50 years old today.  Where does the time go?  In these years, I have witnessed the incredible works of the people of faith.  I have been blessed to see you at work in the world.  Upwards of two million pounds of food distributed over the years from the Food Truck.  Compassionate care for people who are struggling.  Love extended to those who are lonely.  Mentoring, tutoring, teaching, worshiping, visiting, encouraging, comforting, advocating, feeding, helping, building, cleaning, sharing, loving.  You have been filled with grace during the hard times.  You have provided a home and community for Will.  You have given generously out of your abundance, knowing that God will do more with your gifts than you could ever imagine.  

I guess my birthday reflection this morning is to keep working, keep loving, keep trusting.  Over the years, we will be able to do different things in different ways.  But we will always be able to do something.  Never underestimate the impact your acts of love in the name of Jesus will have on the world. God will take what we do and will make it a blessing.  

Thank you for blessing me.  Thank you for being a blessing in the world.  

Peace,
Dean

Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A

The lection from Numbers is short and to the point.  It is an announcement of Aaron's death on Mount Hor at the age of 123.  I decided to look up other obituaries and spend this morning reading about life, accomplishments, grief, and hope summarized in a few paragraphs.  Here are some you might find interesting and meaningful.

• Think about Harry Weathersby Stamps on November 1 when we turn our clocks back one hour for Daylight Savings Time (rather than remaining on the Lord's Time). 
• If you ever consider throwing away your old pantyhose, don't.  Remember Mary A. "Pink" Mullaney instead.  
• If you are able, take the time to read the obituary of Spencer Watson Seupel, written by his mother after his suicide.  "Let us find and encourage the ineffable mystery and extraordinary beauty of the simple human heart."

Earl's obituary will be shared soon.  What would you want people to remember about you when you die?  Who did you find yourself thinking about this morning?  Find someone to call to discuss life, death, and obituaries.  

Stay safe.  Stay loving.  Wear a mask.  Pray for each other.  Maintain social distancing.  Do good.

Peace,
Dean

Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A

The Word of God is for the people of God, all the people of God.  The texts for today include the opening verses to Numbers 13.  Spies are sent to Canaan to check out the land, the defenses, and the prospects for this journey through the wilderness to finally come to an end.  The spies are sent to be the first to observe the Promised Land.  They found the land to be flowing with milk and honey, and reported the strength of its defenses causing great doubt and complaint by the people.  God would bring them into the promised land, but only after 40 more years and the passing of a generation.  

I invite you to experience this story in a way that many experience the Word of God, through sign language.  Here is the video.  Open up your Bible to Numbers 13 and 14 and follow along.  There is no sound.

Find a way to share with someone how it felt to experience the Word in this way today.

Peace,
Dean

Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A

Psalm 63
Are you feeling it these days?  The tension and anxiety, the conflict and confrontation, the isolation and division...  Despite the heightened sense of upheaval regarding the pandemic, politics, race relations, finances, family, etc. we have a way forward.  We can turn to the Psalms, which name the pain and reach out a hand, trusting in God's faithfulness.  "you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy."

Prayer can help us find our way.  Find a quiet place.  Close your eyes.  Open your heart.  And let all your fears, doubts, hopes, and worries pour forth.  God will gather it all up.  And as you sit in the stillness, God will speak to you in a way that you can understand.  

Rethink Church, a program of The United Methodist Church Discipleship Ministries, offers up this Prayer for Civility in a Divisive World.  May this add to your conversation with God today.

A Prayer for Civility in a Divisive World
Everywhere we turn these days
we see and hear the reminders...
of a world divided on so many issues.
Social media is full of heated debates 
and angry words.
God, help us remember
that we are made in Your image.
Guide our words
towards civility and 
wisdom in discourse and discussion.
Teach us as people of faith,
to model love for our neighbors
in all conversations,
whether public or private.
You have called us to be salt and light
to our nation and to the world.
Empower us to be peacemakers
with our words.
Amen.

Peace,
Dean

Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A

Exodus 40:34-38
As Moses and the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness, they were led each day by the presence of God.  The sign of God's presence was a cloud that either settled over the tent (the tabernacle, which was a portable place of worship), or lifted from the tent.  When the cloud was covering the tent, the people stayed where they were.  When it was lifted, they moved.  All eyes were trained to look for this sign, the cloud of the Lord, which would glow with fire through the night.  In this way, God and the people would journey together.

In these pandemic days, we could use such a sign from God to lead us through this wilderness.  Show us when it is safe to move.  Or, caution us to stay inside and isolated for a little while longer.  Maybe the graphs and numbers and infection rates and positivity percentages that we look at to measure Covid-19 are like the cloud of the Lord.  All we can do is trust when it says to slow down, and engage when it says to move forward.

And, we can attune ourselves to the world around us.  Take some time today, if you are able, and go outside.  Breathe the autumn air.  Look at the formation of the clouds.  Study the trees and their transformation.  Notice the sun and the stars and the moon.  Lift your eyes to observe creation.  What is God telling you?  Where is God leading you?  How is God present with you?  Give someone a call and talk with them about what you both are seeing and experiencing.

Peace,
Dean

​Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A

Exodus 33:7-11
This picture of Moses setting up a tent far from the center of camp, where he can go and talk with God face to face, friend to friend, is quite a story to ponder over a cup of coffee this morning.  Moses set this tent up so it was like walking to Mount Horeb to meet God.  He called it the "Tent of Meeting."  I might have gone with something like "The Moun-tent" but nobody asked me.  What a dramatic scene as this passage pictures Moses walking to his tent.  Everyone shows deep respect and reverence by standing at the entrance of their tents until Moses entered his tent.  It reminds me of when people used to pull over in honor of a funeral procession, not that this was like a funeral, but the recognition of something meaningful and sacred occuring and taking appropriate action.  More dramatic sights as Moses enters the tent, the pillar of cloud takes its place over the tent.  This was the sign that God was present.  All would kneel at the entrances of their tents.  And then this truly remarkable sentence.  "Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend."  What was that like??  I am going to need another cup of coffee to imagine what it might have been like for Moses to hang out and visit with his friend, God.  Amazing.  Lastly, we find that after a while Moses leaves the tent, but Joshua son of Nun, stays.  Perhaps he spent some of his time anticipating a task force at Wesley Park that would one day be named in his honor.  Sit and appreciate this incredible scene today.  Imagine it from the perspectives of one watching Moses, or Moses meeting God, or God meeting Moses, or Joshua's faithfulness and presence.  Enjoy your coffee and give thanks to God.

Peace,
Dean

​Daily Lectionary Reading for Year A

John 6:25-35
Jesus is astute.  He knows that some people follow him because they figure they will get something out of it.  People choose to follow Jesus sometimes because they want to be successful, or rich, or popular, or to appear righteous.  Some went looking for Jesus in this passage because he fed them and they were hoping he would fill them once again with bread.  Or that he would provide more signs that would validate his legitimacy and make it worth their time to follow him.  But Jesus knew that faith is not transactional.  Following Jesus does not mean if I do ”this” for him he will do ”that” for me.  Following Jesus means to love the world and build up goodness wherever you are and with whoever is around.  People can only be truly filled with the bread that comes from God, the bread of heaven.  This is the bread that gives life to the world.  Take some time today to consider the words of Jesus.  "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."  What does it mean for you to follow the One who provides all you need to live a truly loving life?  How does that kind of faith allow you to live and love others?

Peace,
Dean