In Celebration: Ray Miller

Psalm 46, Romans 8 & John 14: 1-7, 25-27

 “Be still and know that I am God.” A beloved grandchild wrote this scripture on a rock and placed it in Ray’s urn. We know that in some ways, Ray was the opposite of still – we knew him as an Energizer Bunny! He just kept going – living life with vigor and energy for more than 100 years. So it is not surprising that this is a day that we did not anticipate. Although Ray had entered hospice this fall, his journey from relatively good health to death felt fast…

On December 19, when I was prepared to offer a Commendation (prayers of peace for those who are dying) because he had stopped eating, he actually received Communion the assistance of a hospice nurse… we spoke and prayed together and I think that he thought the technology that brought us together was as wondrous as we did. We were looking forward to many more visits in that new way. But on Christmas Eve, we could see that the end of this life was coming to a close as we sang “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Silent Night” in our Zoom worship, and on Christmas morning, he peacefully died.

 

Today, we are grateful and celebrate Ray’s life, and we are grateful that his suffering is over; but also, it is difficult to say goodbye.

In John, Jesus speaks to disciples who, put simply, can’t imagine their life without him.

Jesus is talking about his upcoming death and they don’t want to hear it. They don’t want to face losing him, and Jesus reassures them… Don’t be afraid. I am going to die, but death does not have the final word. I’m going ahead of you so you can be reassured that when you come this way, entering the mystery of life after death, you’ll know I’m there, with a place for you. 

And what’s more, as Jesus faces his own death, he promises a gift for those who cannot imagine life without him—the presence of the Holy Spirit—who blows where it will, who teaches, who reminds them of what they know, and fills them with peace. Not the temporary, unsatisfying peace that doesn’t last, but deep peace and love that takes our pain, fear and despair away. 

 

Doesn’t that sound like what happened to Ray?

When he lost Fran, the love of his life, he experienced deep grief, and then came new parts of life that he never could have imagined. 

Who would have thought that he would experience 15 years of car racing with Dick and win a trophy at age 87?! He had friends because of racing that were much, much younger than him, and Ray told me many times how this experience of doing this with his son meant so much to him. 

When he left his long-time home at age 99, we gathered around him for what I call a “reverse house blessing,” sharing the memories of love that you hold in this space and blessing the space to receive another family. Somehow, it makes the grief of saying goodbye to a cherished home more bearable… and I remember, we were a little worried about how that would be for Ray, to sit in his cherished home, empty and ready for sale… but he sat in his chair, like a king, sharing stories, sharing some of  his favorite memories in that home, sharing words about his love for all of you who shared special times that home with him over the years.

And, he was grateful to be a New Perspectives when he arrived there. Well, he wasn’t grateful for everything, let’s be honest. There was too much chicken, not enough steak.
But… he treasured the art from Lynn that he looked at in his room each day. He enjoyed the companionship of new friends that he got to share meals and stories with each day… at least until Covid made life for all of us and especially those in spaces like his, more isolated than ever. These have been hard months, harder than ever… and so it is with some thankfulness and joy that we know that Ray is released from the pain and suffering of this life, and rests in God’s loving embrace this Christmas season.

 

We will remember the ways that Ray wished for love and forgiveness… Ray told me, again and again, how much he loved and cared for each one of you. I think he was aware that he had sometimes been hard on his children… when I brought him Communion, he always added words of his own, asking God to forgive him for all his sins.

Now, he would ask that of you – that you forgive him for any ways that he hurt you throughout his long, long life – and that any past hurts or hard times be transformed by the love he has for you now. Ray would say to each of you, “I love you” and “thanks for the memories.” 

We grieve the loss of this incredible man, but we also have received so much from him that can never be taken away. That is the kind of love that lasts and can live on in and through you, generation to generation.

Ray loved to feast, loved to race, loved to dance, love to host a party… and that is how he would want us to move forward… with a spirit of celebrating all that has been good, all that has been gift, that our tears might turn into tears of joy, that our mourning might become singing. Ray is hoping that we would tell stories, laugh together and embody love.

 

Jesus promises, “‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. ²⁶But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. ²⁷Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

 

In Romans, Paul reminds us that nothing in heaven or on earth can separate us from the deep and wide love of God. In this time, in these days of grief mixed with Christmas days of Emmanuel, God with us, once again, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ bring love and peace, and may the Holy Spirit bring you comfort and joy.

Come in Joy

 

Last Sunday, our children did the preaching. They asked, “Who is Coming to our House?” (using the words of the beautiful picture book by Joseph Slate and Ashley Wolff). Who is coming to our house? In some ways, this year, we may want to answer… no one. No one is coming to our house. We can’t have guests. We cannot gather inside a warm, beautiful, dimly-lit sanctuary and feel the vibrations of one another’s singing and the passing of light from one to another. But in spite of that, someone is coming. Jesus comes whether we are ready or not. Jesus comes to meet you, each one, right where you are – in grief, in loneliness, in contentment, in calm – whatever your feelings, Jesus sits beside you… as the children said on Sunday, adapted from another beautiful children’s book (A Child is Born by Floyd Cooper)

Come, wise ones, to worship right there in your home

God is here, among us, to keep safe and warm.

Come, little ones, O look and see

God smiles up at you from dear Mary’s knee.

God is with us with deepest love to heal what is broken, to remove all oppression, to fill what is empty. God is with us bringing unexpected gifts – both the gifts that come in grocery bags and gift-wrapped boxes and the gifts that are not things. God is with us – even this year, especially this year – God draws near. Let’s listen to some of our children tell us once again:

A Child is Born, adapted from Margaret Wise Brown

So come, you who are shepherds, O follow the light.

And welcome Jesus this blessed night.

Come, wise ones, to worship right there in your home

God is here, among us, to keep safe and warm.

O come, wild birds      Descend, gentle dove

And angels from heaven to give Christ your love.

Come, little ones, O look and see

God smiles up at you from dear Mary’s knee.

Come in joy, come in peace, please come right away

Jesus is born to you this Christmas day.

 

Amen, amen, amen.

Where We Belong - Where the Wild Things Are

Isaiah 40: 1-11 & Mark 1:1-8

Last Sunday, Vicar Anne welcomed all to a new year… and today in Mark, we start at the very beginning. The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ. We listen to the ancient prophets calling from Isaiah and Malachi… here is the messenger, the forerunner, John the baptizer (who looks so much like Elijah), that previous wild voice of God in the wilderness. 

Do you remember Elijah? Elijah… didn’t exactly die after his many years of being God’s voice on earth but was carried up to heaven in a flaming chariot, so the people began to imagine that Elijah would return before the Messiah came. And here is John, another character in the wilderness, out on a vision quest, surviving on what the wilderness provides, coming back to speak God’s words to the community with clarity. Here is John to pave the way for the One who was coming soon.

 

Things are hard in the wilderness… there is isolation, frustration, loneliness…

We know something about that in this season of waiting when we’re all… waiting.
Waiting for a vaccine, waiting to see our loved ones, waiting to gather with others again.

This year, this Advent, we’re not able to meet God in our usual spaces – sanctuaries, volunteer roles, usual patterns of gathering and serving others. 

It’s a wilderness time when God’s presence is de-centralized, where God has spread out to all the places we are…

 

Things are hard in the wilderness, things also may become more clear.
Wilderness can be a revealing place.
Many ancient and diverse people went to the wilderness to learn their names, deepen identity, to gain spiritual grounding and insights.

 

Maybe some of you remember the children’s book by Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are. Max has gotten into all kinds of mischief and is finally sent to his room without any supper. His room becomes a forest and then he sails away in his own little boat to the place where the wild things are. They have yellow eyes and terrible teeth and claws, but actually, Max is able to tell them to be still. They say that Max is the king of the wild things and they have a wild rumpus. Then… Max begins to smell supper and looks just a little bit lonely and sad… and “wanted to be home where someone loved him best of all.” So he returns back to his room where his supper is waiting for him and it is still hot.

 

That is the picture that Isaiah creates for us today – a beautiful picture of coming home to the One who loves you best of all.

True… in this time, we’re not able to meet God in our usual spaces – 

Yet out here, where we are… God is present and this is the God who loves you best of all.

 

Advent is a season of great expectations… and maybe we’ve been trying to tamp down our expectations this year… 

But, we need great expectations when we’re wandering in the wilderness.

 

So here is John the baptizer, forerunner of Jesus, one of those amazing people who pave the way for others, saying “I am not the one you’re waiting for but I know who is.”
And this Jesus, who is Emmanuel—God with us—even in this unusual December, in this month we cannot predict, when we cannot rely on our usual plans and patterns… this Jesus is coming soon in ways we cannot expect.

 

How glorious God is… however good and loving we think God is… God is even more loving…

And in this month, God invites us to cultivate relationship.

 

Again and again and again, God invites us to turn around (not just in the sense of turning from bad stuff we’re involved in…)

But to turn around toward God is who constantly calling each one, everyone home.

This month, we’ll come back to this theme repeatedly - Where we belong – 

And this theme is about coming home to God, coming home to who we are… who God has truly made us to be, a daily turning, receiving God’s daily embrace.

 

Even when the whole world is moving or has moved on in a different direction, Jesus invites our turning to the God who is past, present and future…

 

In Advent, we wait for the second coming of Jesus…
but isn’t Christ always near, ready to be born within and among us?
God has met us in song and prayer, in candlelight and community, in family and gatherings, year after year.

So, we can expect the second or third or billioneth coming of Christ… among us…this year… even if the context is different.

This year, God will meet us in our homes.
God will meet us in each beginning, each thing that we do in a new way because we’ve never lived with these circumstances before… God will gather us like lambs, carry us in her bosom, be strong and tender, be faithfully present, reveal glory.

 

God’s coming is good news.

No need to tamp down expectations here in the wilderness because here, we’ll begin to smell God’s delicious cooking, wafting our way…  

after a little time in the wilderness where the wild things are, we might just realize that in God, we are finally home where we are loved best of all. 

 

 

 

 

Entrusted with Each Other

The gospel according to Matthew:

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, ³³ and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. ³⁴ Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? ³⁸ And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? ³⁹ And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ ⁴⁰ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tellyou, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,^[a] you did it to me.’ ⁴¹ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; ⁴² for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ ⁴⁴ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ ⁴⁵ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it tome.’ ⁴⁶ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

 

Every year, as we come to this day named Christ the King, it’s significant to me to mention that this acknowledgement of Christ as King came in resistance to growing fascism in Europe. In 1925, between two world wars, came the invention of this Sunday… as one church year ends and a new one begins, that whatever powerful events are happening nationally or globally, Christ is the one who we acknowledge above all other powers. In Ephesians, we hear Paul write from prison that Jesus’ name is above every name that is named, not only in his own time but also into the future… and Jesus is the center… over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all. 

 

That is a powerful image… an image like the Thanksgiving image of the cornucopia… an over-abundance of fruits and vegetables flowing out from a horn of plenty. This is the abundance that a generous God has poured out and wants for all people.

However, we know that humans are not always good at extending that same abundance. In fact, in the U.S., our culture tends to be highly focused on the individual or one’s own family… in measures of the comparative values that countries hold through the world, in the priority of community vs. individual, the U.S. sits at 91% prioritizing the self or one’s own family.

 

Into that cultural context comes Jesus’ description of God’s vision for us—one in which we are all so connected as one body, so full of love and mercy, that we would feed others, make sure that all have clean water to drink, take care of those who are sick, clothe the naked, be present those in prison… and that we would treat whoever we are serving as if they are the most important one, as if they are Christ.

 

In the parable of the sheep and goats, neither those who do good nor those who miss opportunities to do good are really aware of it…

It’s a little bit like the radio show popular in Wisconsin - "Michael Feldman's Whad' Ya Know" 

Where Feldman asked at the beginning of every show - “What do ya know?” and the audience says, “Not much. You?”

 

What’s the meaning of this parable about sheep and goats? Well, there’s the obvious meaning… take care of others. But also probably this… that we don’t know as much as we think we do.

God alone knows the fullness of our acts of love and mercy and the opportunities we’ve missed.

 

There’s a story about this parable from a collection of sayings from the desert fathers, not attributed to any particular Abba…

A young monk is troubled by a demon who asks him, “Who are the sheep and who are the goats?” And the young monk answers, “I do not know who the sheep are and who the goats are. As for me, I am a goat.” And because of his humility, the demon left him.

 

But as well as teaching us about walking humbly, it’s also a vision for this time… a time when so many of us are imprisoned, lonely, hungry, poor, sick, thirsty…

We are praying for those who will free, feed, give, heal, share a cup of water…

We need Christ among us.

We have a longing for a world that better matches God’s own vision.

Each Wednesday, Joy McElroy in her role as Director of Cherish All Children sends out a Wednesday reflection and prayer related to the coming Sunday’s Bible readings and here are the words she shared this week, written by Kay Kinkel, a member of Cherish All Children’s Advisory Board

 

We are living in the anxious times of a worldwide pandemic. Many of us are feeling fear and despair about the spread of the disease, and possibly even feeling imprisoned with the restrictions recommended or imposed due to the re-escalation of the COVID-19 crisis. The thousands who bear the symptoms of the illness surely feel imprisoned by restricted breathing, intense pain, long hospitalizations and separation from their loved ones. When imprisoned, whether mentally, physically or both, it’s human nature to focus on one’s own anxiety and discomfort and lose sight of hope and the concerns of others. Yet even though Paul was in prison and his life was at risk when he wrote this letter to the church in Ephesus, his heart was full of hope and his prayers were for others… As our liturgical church year comes to a close this week and we acknowledge the Reign of Christ, we follow Paul’s example. Christ breaks open the prison of despair as Christ fills us with mercy, love and hope.[1]

 

All this month, we’ve been reflecting on how God has entrusted us with ministry, resources, and how God inspires us to be actively involved as servant leaders… as those who have all the oil they need (because God provides it)… as those whose impact God multiplies. And this week, God reminds us how we are entrusted to each other.

 

We have needs and we have resources… and Christ calls us family, one body, to care for one another with mercy and tenderness.

It’s so different than the inclination to provide for only ourselves and it even goes beyond charity. Anthony Tang writes, “To truly get food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, welcome to the stranger, clothing to the naked, health to the sick, and hope to the prisoner, what is universally called for is listening, respect, and relationship. This Scripture is a call to be in relationship with the least of these.” What if we’ve missed opportunities, screwed up our chances, failed at this in the past? “The good news is that over and over again God places people in our lives to give us new opportunities to learn how to connect across differences and be in relationship. Our God of second chances creates possibilities for us to be in relationship.”[2]

 

This is the vision of this Sunday also called the Reign of Christ, that we would show in our daily lives, unconsciously, the overflowing, abundant presence of a loving, mercy-filled God.

 

Dirk Lange, who teaches at Luther Seminary describes this as “joyful living in mercy without calculation. This joyful living takes believers to an unexpected place. It takes them to the cross; it takes them to the cross in human lives, to the cross in the life of family, community, society, nation, and world. It takes them to the place of God’s suffering in the world.”[3]

Richard Rohr describes it this way (paraphrase):

“The kingdom of God is within… it is not a place we’re going to but a place we’re coming from…” If that’s true, we carry God with us. God’s way is already here… not just a future destination but something we can experience now. At least a glimpse, at least a taste.

Goats, sheep, we can’t tell ourselves apart… we don’t know the fullness of who we are or what impact we’ve made and yet we can trust in the fullness of Christ who fills all in all.
We carry God within. Christ’s reign is already unfolding… moving us into relationship in ways we cannot expect but can welcome.

 

 

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[1] Kay Kinkel, Wednesday prayer from Cherish All Children, Nov 18, 2020.

[2] Anthony J. Tang, Lectionary Sermon Series, volume 2,  p. 76

[3] Dirk Lange, workingpreacher.com, Nov 22, 2020.

The Gift of Unexpected Gifts

Twelfth Sunday of Christmas/Eve of Epiphany                            

Each week, I benefit from reading a resource for preachers called Working Preacher, and this week is no exception. Black woman theologian, Vice President, Academic Dean and Associate Professor of New Testament at Chicago Theological Seminary, Stephanie Buckhanon Crowder, notices these details about this story of the magi… she notices how Matthew tells the tale focused on the wise men (though women would certainly have been in this caravan of magi). She notices how the story begins in the pain of imperial rule, saying: “One cannot discount the level of conflict, fear, and dis-ease... Herod is frightened (Matthew 2:3). All of Jerusalem is just as terrified (2:3). For [this] is the nature of despotic rule. Its subjects are coerced to experience what it experiences, especially the bad and in exponential proportions.”

Stephanie continues, “Herod is at war with himself because a new king is on the scene. If he had so much power, it surprising that even the threat of another ruler would dishevel him. This is the definition of insecurity: It only pretends to be in control until someone appears to show that there is only [a small amount of] regulation. Force and insecurity are opposite sides of the same tyrannical coin. Both wallow in facade, pretension, and appearance. And yes, Matthew’s [story] is [full of] “appearance” language.”[1]

And into this scene, the magi appear with their gifts.

A star shows up so they can show up.

They travel to pay homage to one who is greater than they are.

“Unlike Herod who acts out of worry, the magi journey with worship on their mind… this wise group travels through the deceit in order to share of their treasure.”[2]

Herod’s anger stands in stark contrast to the awe and curiosity of the magi. He is overcome with fear. Upon seeing the child, the magi are overwhelmed with joy. Herod is not the recipient of honor. The horror he inflicts later upon innocent children reflect this displeasure.

In life, it seems we go backward before we move forward. There are moments when it seems that we regress before there is any progress. Maybe it is true that we take two steps forward and three steps backward. 

However, sometimes there are things we need to see again and again before we [can move on] to what is next. Some things must “show” themselves to us once more in order that we may gauge and have a better understanding of our own position. Epiphany is all about this “showing.”[3]

And this is how we begin 2020… in another Epiphany moment where we are invited to see what God shows us in this particular time and place. We come, like the magi with worship on our minds… through challenges, frustrations, grief, deceit and fear and violence… and we look for a sign, we show up in this place of illumination so that we might see Christ appear.

And here, in this particular gathering of Christ’s body, we have the opportunity to give and receive unexpected gifts (sermon title from Bruce Reyes Chow).

Now, I’m pretty sure you have seen the same comic strips that I’ve seen about those Epiphany gifts—if it had been wise women, the comic strip goes, they would have brought diapers and casseroles, something far more appropriate for a new mother (or even the mother of a two-year-old, right?)… but putting that good womanist critique aside, I’m so curious about these gifts and their meaning to the Holy Family then… and if we can find any gift in those unexpected Epiphany gifts for today.

At first glance, gold is a most obvious good gift…

Gold—money to support a new family for years to come, money that will help them as they travel away from violence and into a foreign land where they can give a token of thanks for the hospitality they have received. Gold, that tends to hold its value even in times of terror and tumult… gold, we understand as a gift fit for a king but welcome to humble and great alike.

What about these other gifts though? Frankincense and myrrh, both made from tree sap… frankincense was often burnt as incense, myrrh made its way into medicine and perfume.[4]It has healing qualities and eases pain. Interpreters over time have associated frankincense with spiritual practices of the temple priest—burning incense around their prayers and sacrifices—and myrrh as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ death and the spices that would be brought to anoint Jesus’ body.

These are truly strange gifts for a toddler, except for the ways that these Jesus stories are told again and again to always remind us—even here at the very beginning—of the powerful end of the story. In the same way that we baptize infants and people of all ages and join with Christ in death and resurrection, this unexpected gift—this gift that points toward death—clarifies life. 

When we fear, avoid and do not speak of death, it has great power over us. But as we claim God’s promise of the deepest love through whatever appears in life, we can become powerfully alive whatever our circumstances. This Epiphany, we too live under threats of violence and death… but as we come to worship Christ, we give and receive unexpected gifts… gifts that like gold, frankincense and myrrh remind us of the treasures that life in God bring, even in the face of death… and how Christ’s appearing clarifies life, fills us with courage and deepest love.

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[1]Stephanie Buckhanon Crowder, Commentary on Matthew 2:1-12, January 6, 2020, Workingpreacher.com

[2]Stephanie Buckhanon Crowder, Commentary on Matthew 2:1-12, January 6, 2020, Workingpreacher.com

[3]Stephanie Buckhanon Crowder, Commentary on Matthew 2:1-12, January 6, 2020, Workingpreacher.com

[4]There’s More to Frankincense and Myrrh Than Meets the Eye by Colin Schultz

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/chemically-theres-lot-more-frankincense-and-myrrh-meets-eye-180953727/