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News & Happenings2012 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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Pastor Eric Fjeldal's November Sunday Sermons
Pastor Eric's sermons are presented here in reverse chronological order...in other words, the most recent sermons are at the top of the list, working backwards through time.
Nov. 29th: "Amid the Clutter"
Luke 21: 34-36
It is hard to believe that Renee and I have been with and among you for almost six months. One of the things that is most vivid about our move is all of the stuff we moved. Clutter all of our lives are filled with it and most of it is unimportant. I am not just talking about the physical stuff. I am also talking about the spiritual and emotional clutter. All this stuff succeeds in doing is weighing us down, preventing us from being alert, from seeing and remembering what is important. We won't be able to see and remember what is important until we start sifting through the clutter and recognize that like the stuff in the basement, we really don’t need it all. As we begin to sift through the emotional and spiritual clutter we will discover that despite our good intentions we will inevitably bring some useless stuff along.
It is tempting to say that the eschatological language in this morning's passage is just more clutter. Despite the success of the movie 2012 and the "Left Behind" book series we don’t think about the second coming that is Jesus returning in our lifetime. As a result we think this language is irrelevant. While I don't believe that Jesus will return in our lifetime, I do believe thinking this scripture has no relevance is a mistake. We need to be shaken up, to be awaken from our slumber. We need to heed the warning amid the clutter. Leonard Beechy has written in the November 11, 2209 issue of Christian Century.
We are likely as any people have ever been to be 'weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life.' Add modernity and secularity to the mix, and we are prime candidates for having our closed, numb worlds shaken. In the dullness of our half-lived lives, Jesus startles us into wakefulness. Stand up! Raise your heads! Look! Be alert! These are more than just tips for surviving the eschaton. They are a summons to a larger life in a world immune to the holy and incapable of imagining possibilities outside itself.
How is our world immune to the holy? Why can it be said that we are unable to imagine possibilities? The time our culture spends preparing for the holiday inhibits our preparing for the holy day. We hear a lot of noise about whether we are allowed to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays", with people lamenting about how not being allowed to say "Merry Christmas" ruins their holiday. Is it really that important? I agree with Anna Quindlan who wrote that if our ability to wish any and everyone a "Merry Christmas" defines our Christmas, then with all due respect, "we have lost our way." (Newsweek, December 27, 2004) We have no sense of what it means to prepare for and welcome in the Prince of Peace. Friday was "Black Friday". How many of you went shopping? Many people did. They tweeted and texted for parking spaces as they shopped, and shopped, and shopped until they dropped. "Black Friday", where people buy what they really don't need in an attempt to numb the truth that one in eight adults and one in four children in America are on food stamps. The divide between the haves and have-nots continues to grow. The middle class is disappearing. Our world is immune to the holy and unable to imagine the possibilities that come with Christmas because they spend too little thought about preparing for and welcoming in the Prince of Peace. What I am talking about is addressing the clutter that blocks us from the real issues. It is not an either-or but both-and. Our task is to live with the tension that comes with Advent. To struggle with the uncertainty, admitting to the possibility that our lives are weighed down. We need to own that we let it happen as we fail to acknowledge that we are not preparing our lives to be a dwelling place for our God.
One of our great struggles is what to do with Advent. We need to ask why we rush through this season to get to Christmas. I think it is because we don't like Advent. We don't like the message which is a call to make changes, to open our lives to the possibility that is Christmas. We need to sift through the clutter that blocks us from hearing God's love and God’s call to faithfulness; a call to bring about true healing and hope. The call is to get to the deeper issues, and to do it now, not someday, but now; because the "someday game" brings its own clutter. What is the someday game?
We convince ourselves that life will be better after… we get married, have a bay,
then another. Then we're frustrated because the kids aren't old enough and we'll
be more content when they are. After that, we are frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.
We tell ourselves our life will be complete when our spouse gets his/her act together,
when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there is no better time to be happy than right now. If not know, when…?
Alfred D. Souza said, "For a long time it seemed to me that life was always about to begin. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin.
At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life." So, treasure every moment you have…
Stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until the first of the fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you have a drink, until you sober up, until you die, until you’re born again to decide that there is no better time than right now. (Source unknown)
Our excuses and rationalizations perpetuate the clutter. It is very tempting to hear the call to wakefulness and respond, "You know I am a pretty good person. I am polite, kind and courteous. I teach my kids to be respectful. I support charities and do good things. I go to Church. I volunteer my time to worthy causes. I do a lot more than my neighbor does. You can't be talking about me." That is not what we are talking about. Doing those things is very noble, but they are not distinctively Christian. Fredrick Buechner has written, "A Christian is one who is on the way, though not necessarily vey far along the way. A Christian isn't necessarily nicer than anyone else. Just better informed." (Wishful Thinking, pg. 14) We are better informed. We know what God wants us to do; to recognize and address the reality of clutter in our lives, to listen to and look for signs amid this clutter, and respond in ways that allow us move beyond the clutter. I say this because the clutter is not going away, not completely anyway. We may be able to simplify our lives some, but we will always have to deal with clutter, including finding a way to respond amid the clutter. This is one of the realities of life.
As Advent begins, let us hear the call to look and be alert, for that is the only hope we have when it comes to "preparing our lives to be a dwelling place for our God." That is what Advent offers us. That is what we need and hopefully what we want not just today, but every day. Amen.
Nov. 22nd: "Living Thanks"
Matthew 6: 25-33
I have trouble with this passage and I do not think I am alone. It might be more accurate to say I have trouble taking this passage literally. I don't believe we can be that irresponsible. We have to worry about paying our bills. While I firmly believe it is important to live in the present, it is impossible to do so without in some way remembering yesterday and being aware of tomorrow.
In the midst of being responsible there is often a perspective that gets lost or skewed; one that helps us remember what it truly means to be thankful. We can count ourselves lucky or fortunate because: "we have food in the refrigerator, clothes on our backs, a roof over head and a place to sleep, which means we are richer than 75% of the world. If we have money in the bank, cash in our wallet and spare change in a dish somewhere, we are among the top 8% of the earth's wealthiest people. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness you are more fortunate than the million people who will not survive this week. Our ability to attend this worship service or any other religious-related meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, or torture tells us we are fortunate because billions of people cannot" (Author unknown). But these are not reasons to give thanks to God. This is because giving thanks to God and living thanks comes from a different place. It comes out of a different understanding; one which affirms that gratitude to God is not tied to wealth or health or where you live. I say this because a lack of these things does not mean we cannot give thanks.
Faithfulness tells us that gratitude is not tied to what we have. It has to do with remembering what really matters. While on some level we know this, on others because of the nature of our lives we forget this. Our remembering and forgetting is tied into our striving. This begs the question, what do you, consciously or unconsciously strive for? To help you think about your answer, I invite you to reflect on the following story.
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversations soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, others expensive, some exquisite. He invited his former students to help themselves to coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plan and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases hides what we drink. What all of you wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups… and then you began eyeing each other's cups.
Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, the money and positions in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of the life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. Enjoy the coffee… and remember the happiest people in life don't have the best of everything they just make the best of everything.
This morning's scripture tells us that we are to strive first for the kingdom of God. Doing this means remembering the importance of our relationship with God and striving to maintain and ground ourselves in this relationship. We are called to put God first. I know that I am not always good at putting God first. I know too that when I don't, I do not as readily notice the beauty that is around me. I do not fully experience the joy that is life because I become unnecessarily worried and anxious. I allow my priorities to become distorted as I chase after the surface definitions of success and happiness, comparing what I have and don’t have with others, only noticing those who have more, or those who appear to have better. How about you?
In truth, doing this is wasted energy. It doesn't add to the quality of the relationships that truly matter, including my relationship with God. Wasted energy may allow us to be thankful when things are going well, but that is very different than living thanks despite the circumstances.
Living thanks, that is seeking first the kingdom is a learned attitude, hopefully one that becomes part of our DNA. It has been my experience that we can learn this attitude in one of two ways. We can be provoked, that is encouraged by the community of faith as we are taught how to pray, learn the importance of worship, and why it is important to care for and about others, as we embrace the call to work for peace and justice. These things can become a part of who we are as they are reinforced through our experiences. Healing hope-filled energy feeds healing, hope-filled energy.
We can also come to this attitude because of some negative life experience or exposure. The death of a loved one, an illness, a crisis with a child; some event that exposes some disconnect or incompleteness within our lives. The result is we decide a change needs to be made and we make it. Whatever the reason for the transformation, Abraham Heschel describes this new understanding this way.
Who of us is worthy to be alive;
to be present at the constant unfolding of time;
amidst the meditations of mountains, the humility of flowers,
clouds that die constantly for God’s glory?
We alone are hating, hunting, hurting.
Suddenly we feel ashamed of our clashes and complaints
in the face of the tacit glory in nature.
It is so embarrassing to live!
How strange we are in the world, and how presumptuous our doings.
Only one response can sustain us: gratefulness for witnessing the wonder of life,
and the gift of our unearned right to serve, to adore, to fulfill.
Gratitude is our humble response to the inconceivable surprise of living.
Whatever the reason for the revelation it comes down to our making a choice. Living thanks is a choice which comes as we foster an attitude of gratitude; one that leads us to strive first for the kingdom, believing that when we do all of the other things will fall into place. We begin to live in today, without letting the events of yesterday and the uncertainty of tomorrow dictate or paralyze us.
I am not saying we will always be able to do this. Seeking the kingdom and walking with God is something to strive after. It opens us to the opportunity of living thanks. God promises that once we open ourselves to the possibility, once we make the choice, the peace we seek will be the peace we experience. We will experience it not because of wealth, or health or where we live. This peace comes from a deeper place; one that grounds us in what really matters as we move from just giving thanks, to living thanks. Amen.
Nov. 8th: "The Gift of Respect"
Mark 12: 38-40
Being treated with respect is important to all of us. Sometimes respect comes because of what we do, how we live; the kind of role model we are. Other times it is because of a position or title we hold. Whatever the reason for our being treated with respect, we like the way it feels. This is not all bad. Respect given and respect received goes a long way.
The trouble comes when we equate respect with importance and special privileges. Complications arise when we begin to expect or believe we deserve another's respect regardless of how we behave. We are in trouble when we rely on other's respect of us to define our value and worth; to fill that inner void we all have. Trouble comes too when we look to what being treated with respect gets us, forgetting that respect is also what we give; for we are called to serve, not to be served.
Sadly this is what happened to the scribes. It is important to remember that the scribes did not start out this way. hey started out as faithful people, but they lost their way. They got sucked in by the prevailing culture of their day. They became caught up in the recognition and privilege associated with their role.
For me these are words of warning, for we too can wind up the same way. This morning's prayer of confession reminds us of what can and often time does happen. We can all be guilty of liking, even craving and expecting praise, recognition and privilege. We can be guilty of believing we are entitled to it, even demanding it. After all, everyone likes to be stroked. We all have our way of calling attention to ourselves and our actions. So how do we protect against our falling into the trap the Scribes fell into? How do we make sure we don’t get sucked in? How do we recognize it when we are being sucked in? The answer is found in learning how to truly listen.
We need to listen to that inner voice so that we can be honest about who we are. We all have a void that needs to be filled. Our inner voice reminds us of that void, which often manifests itself in a false sense of humility that helps us keep score of who is and who is not being faithful. The result, we begin to pass judgment on people and events that is not our call to make.
We need to listen to the people who love us and know us best. They have a way of keeping us honest. Amid the festivities and rejoicing that took place at an event to celebrate my ordination, my mother took me aside and said, "Eric, don't ever let your collar get too tight." What she meant by that is, don't ever think too highly of your title. Don't forget where you came from. My mother passed that role on to Renee who now has the task of reminding me when my collar gets too tight. On more than one occasion she has had to do just that as she has gentle pulled on my shirt collar!
We need to hear the cultural messages and recognize their impact. Despite the economic downturn, and maybe because of it, these words from Henri Nouwen still ring true. "People tend to live in a "house of fear." Fear motivates our decisions. In the house of fear, we crave affection, acceptance, influence and power, and these determine how we will invest our time, money and love. We in the United States have been described as 'materially prosperous but spiritual impoverished.' We buy what we do not need in a desperate quest for satisfaction and status. The values of 'being' are replaced with those of 'having'. The only goal that counts is the pursuit of one's own material well-being." It is easy to see how in today's culture we can confuse respect with status or possessions. The "bling" can be appealing, but it does not sustain our souls.
This house of fear prevents us from hearing God's healing message which is, that ours and others validation comes simply because we are a child of God. Romans 8 reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. God's gifts of grace and forgiveness are offered before we ask for our seek them. Nothing more is needed. All that is hoped is that we will receive the gift and respond.
The way we respond to God's gift is crucial. Our response determines whether we understand the magnitude of the gift. Truly understanding the gift of respect calls for a certain response, one that calls us to struggle with the truth that we can either be a true follower of Jesus or we can be supporters of the status quo. We cannot be both.
The challenge of faithfulness is to embrace this struggle; to recognize that the faith journey brings its own angst. One in which we truly struggle with the call and pull of culture; a call and pull that does not encourage u to truly respect others. Engaging in this struggle leads to our embracing a different worldview, one that impacts each and every relationship we have. A worldview which affirms we are to define the culture in which we live and not allow the culture in which we live define us. The Scribes got caught up in allowing the culture to define who they were, what they valued and how they saw themselves. In the process they lost sight of how they were called to define the culture.
This is warning we need to hear because to live in our culture is to live in a house of fear. This culture encourages us to spend our energy on maintaining our image and standing, to see others as objects to be used and manipulated to meet our needs and to have us look for what we get and not what we can give. Jesus warns when this happens it is impossible: to love God with all of our heart, souls and mind; to love our neighbor, to truly forgive, to live by grace, to work for true reconciliation and justice; to experience real, life transforming hope. Instead we live our lives estranged from what we need most, the gift of respect.
How do we open ourselves to the gift of respect? By striving to more fully accept that God’s gift of respect is not earned by what we do or by the positions we hold, or even how others view us. It is freely offered by a loving, grace filled, redeeming God who is unimpressed with position, status or supposed cultural privilege. Once we accept this, or even begin to accept this it is then that we can see not only what is, but also what can and indeed will be. We will begin to look at the world through God's eyes, which means we will see the world, our neighbor and ourselves not as our culture does, but as God does, with unconditional love and respect. Amen.
Nov. 1st: All Saints Sunday "Living It Every Day"
Revelation 21: 1-3
Saints remind me that the home of God is among mortals…
- who are saints?…ordinary people who allow the extraordinary nature of God to flow through them…
- & the simple way they do this reminds me that God calls each of us to do the same thing…
- to make it possible for others to exp God’s love here… now…
Saints live out their faith in very, real & tangible ways…
- words of Mother Teresa they do small things w/ great love…
- they don’t intentionally seek reward, recognition or praise…
- they simply go about the business of living their lives & in the process offer healing, hope, understanding, forgiveness & love…
- simply stated they live it, that is God’s love every day…
- & in so doing…
- they remind us just how precious life & time are…
- they help us see a new heaven & a new earth…
- they affirm that God indeed does dwell among us…
If we think of saints only as those who have died, we make a mistake…
- saints are all around us…
- & each of us has the capacity to be saints…
- I also believe each of us has at one time or another been a saint…
- for we have all done something, some act that has…
- enabled another to catch a glimpse of the kingdom…
- allowed another to experience that God’s home is here…
- we may not live it every day, but we have lived it…
- & chances are we did so w/out giving it much thought…
On this All Saints Day I want to share with you some quotes…
- share them believing they will help us see how everyone & anyone can be a saint…
- all it takes is a willingness to trust in God & respond…
- remembering as I said earlier it is not about great acts, but small acts done with great love…
Quotes from When You Thought I Wasn’t Looking…
- I heard you say a prayer, & I knew there is a God I could always talk to & I learned to trust in God…
- I saw you make a meal & take it to someone who was sick, & I learned that we all have to take care of each other…
- I saw you give of your time & money to help people who had nothing & I learned that those who have something need to give to those who don’t…
- I saw how you handled your responsibilities even when you didn’t feel well & I learned how to be responsible…
- I saw tears come from your eyes & I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it’s all right to cry…
Recent editorial Bob Herbert commented on the passivity & sense of hopelessness that seems so prevalent today… “Becoming an American has become a spectator sport. Most Americans watch the news the way you’d watch a ballgame, or a long running TV series, believing they have no more control over important real-life events than a viewer would have over a coach’s strategy or a script for Law & Order…
- saints remind us we have another option…to lovingly respond…
- story @ someone responding Angel on the Train – Paul Howle…
Wisdom, ability to forgive, humility, patience, acceptance, humor, playfulness, trust, generosity… are some of the attributes of saints…
- others include being willing to act, & passion for peace & justice…
- all of these attributes & others come to life when we believe the home of God is among mortals… here… right now…
Ordinary people who allow the extraordinary love of God to flow through them… if you think about it that really isn’t that hard to do…
- & yet for a whole host of reasons we make it difficult…
I wonder what would happen if as we remember those who have paved the way for us… we thought not just about their memory or legacy…
- but @ our gratitude for who they were & what they taught us…
- most times w/o even knowing it…?
I ask this b /c when I think @ those who are for me saints I am reminded of these words…Today…
I wonder, what would happen if we all heard the call to live our faith more fully every day?
- "a new heaven & a new earth" come to mind for me…
- one where more people would know & celebrate that the home of God is among mortals…
