​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

Beginning on Christmas Eve of 1784 and continuing for ten days, the Christmas Conference formed the Methodist Church in America.  Methodist itinerant preachers had been ministering in the colonies since the 1760's.  As priests in the Church of England, John and Charles Wesley traveled to Savannah, Georgia on October 14, 1735. John stayed for two years.  The roots of Methodism run deep in America.

The Methodist Church was formed alongside the birth of this nation.  The United Methodist General Conference, Council of Bishops, and Judicial Council are reflections of the Legislative Branch, Executive Branch, and Judicial Branch of the USA.  Decisions in the Methodist Church are made after vigorous debate and legislative processes following Robert's Rules of Order.  Every four years since that 1784 Christmas Conference the Methodist Church has met in General Conference to guide the direction of the church.  There have been a few disruptions to this pattern, such as a worldwide pandemic.  But, General Conference has usually coincided with the US National Elections.  For these and many other reasons, the Methodist Church and the United States of America are uniquely intertwined.  As citizens of this country, and as citizens of the Kingdom of God, we apply our faith to our policies.  We aspire to live in a country that advocates for the poor and vulnerable.  We continually try to look at our nation through the eyes of Christ and live, and vote, accordingly.

The Council of Bishops issued a letter yesterday encouraging people to engage in our democratic process.  Perhaps they read my blog I wrote yesterday.  :)  Take a look at what they have written.  Be loving.  Be prayerful.  Be thoughtful and kind.

Peace,
Dean

People in our community and around the country have already begun to vote.  Voting is an important part of our civic duty and calls on us to consider the character and policies of all candidates.  Be prayerful as you cast your ballot.  Seek ways to come together rather than be pulled apart no matter your political persuasion.  246 years ago and six days, John Wesley wrote this in his journal.  May it guide us still today.

“October 6, 1774
I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them
1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy
2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against, and
3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.”
Peace,
Dean