5/31/09 slightly edited version of sermon on Pentecost, “Speaking in Thumbs,” from Acts 2:1-21
“And each one heard them speaking in their own native tongue.”
Several weeks ago, I had you offer a different kind of prayer in worship. I had you take out your cell phone and call someone right there in worship and let them know you were praying for them. And that’s exactly what people my age did. But not the youth. You took out your phones and you texted.
It has become a new language with all kinds of abbreviations and shorthand phrases. A church choir director friend of mine has real trouble keeping his youth choir focused. They are texting even while singing. He calls it “speaking in thumbs.”
I know texting is huge among many of you. In a NY Times article I read this past week, it said that in the last quarter of 2008, American teenagers sent or received an average of 2,272 messages per month. They texted in class under the desk, in the back pack, behind the back, at night, at the dinner table, in church! Some doctors are worried about the psychological dependence that develops by being constantly in contact, having “textual relations” all the time. Some are worried about the physical effects—damage to the thumbs.
I hate to say it but I sent my first text message this past Thursday, about 1:30 p.m. It was to confirm a baptism date. No, I don’t hate to say it. I think when the Spirit comes to the Church, the Church learns to speak in the native language of each person. This is Pentecost….speaking in thumbs.
I have some younger clergy colleagues that are allowing themselves to be used by the Spirit in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. At their worship services, people my comment on the sermon or ask a question of the preacher by texting during the service! Speaking in thumbs!
You see where I am going with this….the Spirit didn’t just come some 2,000 years ago when the Church was born. The Spirit continually comes to the Church helping us translate the Gospel in the native language of everyone, meeting them right where they are. The Spirit uses men and women, young and old, slave and free, to get the good news out.
The Church has come a long way from the days when only the priests could read the Bible and the liturgy was in Latin.
One of my younger clergy colleagues was contacted through his Facebook page, “Are you the Michael that I went to school with? It says here you are a pastor. I have a question about faith that maybe you can help me with.” Witnessing over Facebook!
I have a Facebook page! I blog now too! Both people seem to really enjoy it! No, our church website has become a real tool for evangelism. Pastor Jim has done a great job in shepherding this process. Many of the guests we have coming to worship with us found us through our presence on the internet.
How will the Holy Spirit speak through us?
The Holy Spirit will not keep still, will not keep silent. The Holy Spirit will keep filling the Church, will keep calling the Church to meet people where they are so that all can hear in their own native tongue.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Sigh
5/29/09
I take such great comfort from Romans 8:26-27. "We do not know how to pray as we ought." Boy, you got that right! I bet almost everyone feels that way. Thank God for this next part, "But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words." There are so many prayers I cannot ever put into words.
The situation in the Holy Land between Israel and Palestine...sigh
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan....sigh
North Korea and its sabre rattling....sigh
Child abuse....sigh
AIDS....sigh
It is enough for me today to hear the Spirit sigh.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
I take such great comfort from Romans 8:26-27. "We do not know how to pray as we ought." Boy, you got that right! I bet almost everyone feels that way. Thank God for this next part, "But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words." There are so many prayers I cannot ever put into words.
The situation in the Holy Land between Israel and Palestine...sigh
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan....sigh
North Korea and its sabre rattling....sigh
Child abuse....sigh
AIDS....sigh
It is enough for me today to hear the Spirit sigh.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Candles
5/28/09
More than a month ago, at a worship committee meeting, three Doctors said we would help get new altar candles. Margaret, a Ph.D. said that she would purchase new wax candles. Geoff, an M. D. said that he would join with me, a Doctor of Ministry, in drilling out the wax tops and inserting oil canisters. This would insure that the candles would not burn down, would last a long time, and not have black smoke.
It took a few weeks to get the candles ordered and for them to arrive. Then I had to take them to my house where I have a drill press. Then Geoff and I had to get our calendars together. Finally, we drilled out one candle. But alas, in order to get the old oil canisters to fit inside, we had to drill a 2" hole that blew out the wall of the wax candle. So, Geoff ordered smaller diameter canisters, only 1 1/4" wide. Another week goes by. Last night, we drilled out 3 candles for use in the sanctuary.
If you want to know how the church operates, this is a paradigm story. It goes well with my blog from yesterday about patience. We wait in expectant hope. We don't give up. We tend to tiny details. God gets in done in God's own time.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
More than a month ago, at a worship committee meeting, three Doctors said we would help get new altar candles. Margaret, a Ph.D. said that she would purchase new wax candles. Geoff, an M. D. said that he would join with me, a Doctor of Ministry, in drilling out the wax tops and inserting oil canisters. This would insure that the candles would not burn down, would last a long time, and not have black smoke.
It took a few weeks to get the candles ordered and for them to arrive. Then I had to take them to my house where I have a drill press. Then Geoff and I had to get our calendars together. Finally, we drilled out one candle. But alas, in order to get the old oil canisters to fit inside, we had to drill a 2" hole that blew out the wall of the wax candle. So, Geoff ordered smaller diameter canisters, only 1 1/4" wide. Another week goes by. Last night, we drilled out 3 candles for use in the sanctuary.
If you want to know how the church operates, this is a paradigm story. It goes well with my blog from yesterday about patience. We wait in expectant hope. We don't give up. We tend to tiny details. God gets in done in God's own time.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
patience
5/27/09
I have to laugh at the word I was drawn to yesterday, "patience." It was the very last word in my prayer/devotional time from Romans 8:22-25. I laugh because I had to wait all day until the end of the day to write this blog, and by then our internet connection at church was kaput.
What I wanted to say about patience is this. It is not a gritting-our-teeth kind of virtue. It is not idly waiting. As I read this passage, it is full of hope and anticipation. The best metaphor is that is patience is like being in the last stages of waiting for a baby to be born. Something wonderful and good is almost here, and we are "laboring" for it with the rhythms of all creation.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
I have to laugh at the word I was drawn to yesterday, "patience." It was the very last word in my prayer/devotional time from Romans 8:22-25. I laugh because I had to wait all day until the end of the day to write this blog, and by then our internet connection at church was kaput.
What I wanted to say about patience is this. It is not a gritting-our-teeth kind of virtue. It is not idly waiting. As I read this passage, it is full of hope and anticipation. The best metaphor is that is patience is like being in the last stages of waiting for a baby to be born. Something wonderful and good is almost here, and we are "laboring" for it with the rhythms of all creation.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
a typical day
5/26/09
Some people think that we pastors work only 1 day a week and a half day at that. So I thought I would give you what a typical day is like for, in fact, this day.
I usually begin the day with prayer and exercise. Yes, as far as spiritulity types, I am a crossbreed between an activist and a comtemplative. Today, I had an early break fast with my wife. Then I walked for 3 1/2 miles at Lady Bird Lake before swimming 1/2 mile at Deep Eddy Pool. The walking, the breathing, the praying, the rhythm of swimming all become a unity for me. I pray for my family, my church family, needs of the world--time passes very quickly. Almost every day will find me starting by praying and exercising.
Then when I get to the office, I go through my emails. I never thought I would spend so much time on the computer! I have voice mails and snail mail to answer as well. Today I had 27 emails when I arrived, only 1 voice mail, and 2 snail mail.
Today, we had our weekly staff meeting where we pray together and help each other in the various ministry areas. This particular meeting was "web heavy" as Pastor Jim taught more about updating our tabs on our church website.
I had lunch with a United Methodist Women's Circle at one of the member's homes. Salads and 7 lovely ladies full of conversation.
I have been working on the worship bulletin for this Sunday, Pentecost when our confirmation class will be helping to lead. In just a little bit, other worship leaders will join me as we try to put the polish on the flow.
I get to leave early today, about 4 p.m., because I have no evening meetings. This is not typical. What is typical is that over the holiday weekend, I had a phone call asking for prayer for an emergency situation and one counseling situation that arose quickly.
What is typical is that my calendar can have all kinds of appointments listed that cancel, or that it can be totally blank for that page and it turn out to be my busiest day. What is typical is that I am seldom bored.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Some people think that we pastors work only 1 day a week and a half day at that. So I thought I would give you what a typical day is like for, in fact, this day.
I usually begin the day with prayer and exercise. Yes, as far as spiritulity types, I am a crossbreed between an activist and a comtemplative. Today, I had an early break fast with my wife. Then I walked for 3 1/2 miles at Lady Bird Lake before swimming 1/2 mile at Deep Eddy Pool. The walking, the breathing, the praying, the rhythm of swimming all become a unity for me. I pray for my family, my church family, needs of the world--time passes very quickly. Almost every day will find me starting by praying and exercising.
Then when I get to the office, I go through my emails. I never thought I would spend so much time on the computer! I have voice mails and snail mail to answer as well. Today I had 27 emails when I arrived, only 1 voice mail, and 2 snail mail.
Today, we had our weekly staff meeting where we pray together and help each other in the various ministry areas. This particular meeting was "web heavy" as Pastor Jim taught more about updating our tabs on our church website.
I had lunch with a United Methodist Women's Circle at one of the member's homes. Salads and 7 lovely ladies full of conversation.
I have been working on the worship bulletin for this Sunday, Pentecost when our confirmation class will be helping to lead. In just a little bit, other worship leaders will join me as we try to put the polish on the flow.
I get to leave early today, about 4 p.m., because I have no evening meetings. This is not typical. What is typical is that over the holiday weekend, I had a phone call asking for prayer for an emergency situation and one counseling situation that arose quickly.
What is typical is that my calendar can have all kinds of appointments listed that cancel, or that it can be totally blank for that page and it turn out to be my busiest day. What is typical is that I am seldom bored.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Monday, May 25, 2009
5/25/09
Acts 2:12 "What does this mean?" This is one of the first responses to the experience of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the church with wind and flame and voices. It is still the question I have on my mind as I try to understand the movement of the Spirit in our lives today. Maybe it is the proper stance of believing people, always to be dealing with the mystery of God, never quite knowing for sure, and yet still believing.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Acts 2:12 "What does this mean?" This is one of the first responses to the experience of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the church with wind and flame and voices. It is still the question I have on my mind as I try to understand the movement of the Spirit in our lives today. Maybe it is the proper stance of believing people, always to be dealing with the mystery of God, never quite knowing for sure, and yet still believing.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
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