December 17, 2017         Rejoice Always!                                        

         One of my favorite Bible Stories is the Old Testament story about Elijah and the Widow of Zarapheth. A number of years ago, I heard a preacher re-imagine this story to give us an insight into the power of God in human life.

         This version of the story had Elijah meeting the woman at the well, where he asks her to bring him some water and something to eat. Now the woman recognizes that Elijah is a prophet, and that she should provide some thing for him, but she shakes her head sadly, and tells him she cannot make him anything, for she herself has been starving for days. All she has is a little flour and oil, and she is going home just now to bake a little cake, so that she and her son, may eat it and die.  A heartbreaking story, if there ever was one.

         But Elijah won’t let it go at that, he tells the woman he will come home with her, and so he does. So far, this is pretty close to the biblical text, but now the imagination begins. Elijah enters the house and sits at the kitchen table, and as the woman brings out the jar of oil and the flour to make the cake, he interviews her. Where did you get the flour? I gleaned it in the field she says. You can glean flour in the field?  - Yes she answers. And the oil, where did you get that? My son got it for working at the neighbors vineyard. You have good neighbors? – Yes, she answers. And your son, is he a hard worker? – yes, he gets hired every day, brings back enough for the next.

Elijah looks around the place and sees plenty of empty jars sitting about, and asks, where did you get all these jars, and the woman replies, my husband used to glean the flour and work for the oil, and then go down to the market place and sell it. And so Elijah said to the woman! You have a Son, you can glean the fields, you have good neighbors, you have all these jars, how come you can’t continue the business!  At this point the preacher stopped his story and said, “we do not know if the woman agreed with Elijah, all we do know is that as long as Elijah stayed with the widow, the oil and the flour never ran out.”

The third Sunday of Advent is the Sunday of Joy. And on this Sunday, we have the reading for Romans in which Paul tells us to rejoice always! Pray without ceasing! Give thanks in all circumstances! And that I believe is exactly what Elijah was doing with the widow of Zarapheth. He was rejoicing in all the blessings God had given her, and encouraging her to find reasons to rejoice as well, so that in doing so, she would find life again! And I think, in this season of Advent, many of us, need this encouragement to rejoice in our blessings, so that we may not get lost in this season of darkness.

At my last church, there was a Catholic Psychiatrist who attended our weekly men’s lectionary group. Every week, for 8 years, when we went around the table to share our joys and concerns, he would share his, and then, he would conclude with the statement, “But life is wonderful!” One time I mentioned to him how encouraging this was, and he said that in his practice he found that he spent most of his time, convincing people who thought life was miserable, that it was indeed wonderful, and so that had become his message, and he had been quite successful with that approach. Think about that....., all it took, to turn around these lives, was a switch from miserable to wonderful, from despair to rejoicing!

In the last few weeks, our scriptures have been calling us to repent and turn towards the coming Christ Child. Now I know, that some of us when we hear the word repent, imagine some fundamentalist preacher trying to manipulate us! But let’s think about what our scriptures are calling us to do – week 1 repent of hopelessness and seek hope, week 2 repent of anxiousness and fear, and find peace, and week 3 repent of despair and find ways to rejoice! In our scriptures, repentence isn’t a means to manipulate us, but to turn us to Christ and to new life!

 One final note, as I thought of my friend the psychiatrist, I am reminded that many people in the midst of advent are afflicted by what are called the holiday blues – I believe seasonal effective disorder is the psychiatric term.  These include, the loss of loved ones, the inability to provide for the Christmas wishes of families, the questioning of life choices, career, marriage, and families often struggle with at this time. Wouldn’t it be wonderful, if all it took to heal people of this, was to remember the words of the Apostle Paul, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances!" Perhaps, it's just that easy! And that’s the good news of Jesus Christ! 

December 10, 2017              Peace                                                                                               

         Every month, when I go home to Jerseyville, I go visit with my mother in Belleville, IL. This weekend when I went, we talked about what it was like when I went to college in the 80’s and when she went to college in the 50’s. As you might imagine, this conversation was filled with rememberances of how much more peaceful life was in the 50’s. The war was over, and the civil rights movements had not yet begun. School was a place where people studied and became something, it was not a party like the 80’s. People were more decent to one another then, and knew how to think of others as much as they thought of themselves. My mom went to Elmhurst, a church college. And in those days, it really was a church college. There was chapel on Wednesday and church on Sunday, and you went to both, everyone went to both, not because there would be some kind of punishment, but because it was expected. Life was simpler, clearer, and straighter than it is now.

         I know this sounds like your typical longing for the old days conversation, but it isn’t always wrong to reflect on good spiritual qualities from our past, and consider how we might apply them to our lives today. Life today is not simpler, clearer, and straighter than it was back then. As I have noted in recent weeks, we seem to have complicated problems today, we have people who confuse the issues rather than solve them, and we have crooked people out for themselves alone. We wrestle with issues like gun control, immigration, disaster relief, the economic divide between rich and poor, prejudice, partisanship, sexism and racism. In this day and age, we are all tempted to be like those we see daily in our media, out for themselves alone, unthinking towards others. In this kind of world, we are bound by sin, and tormented with suffering and death.

         But on this second Sunday in Advent, we hear good news! First of all in our reading from Isaiah, who announces that our time of suffering is coming to an end. The LORD is coming to lead us out of these days, to level the mountains of fear, to make straight the paths of our lives, and to give life to a people bound by our ways of sin and death. Isaiah gives this good news to the people bound in Exile in Babylon, and John the Baptist gives this same good news to the people living under Roman occupation during Jesus life. On this Sunday, two thousand years later, I proclaim it to you! As Paul says this morning, a thousand years are like a day to the LORD – two thousand years have passed, and God still calls to us, still seeks for us to be saved, still seeks for not one of us to be lost.

         At our Prairie Association Meeting some weeks ago, our speakers invited us to this salvation. They invited us, in this world constantly trying to get us to hurry up, to slow down. To listen to ourselves and to others, and to reflect upon our lives rather than simply react to what was going on around us. To repent of this world centered only on ourselves, and to live in a world filled with others. They invited us to get in touch again, with the God who loves us, who calls us to take care of ourselves, and calls us to love one another. They called us through faith to a simpler, clearer, and straighter life. And the goal of that life, is peace, peace for ourselves, and peace for our world.

         Now I know that after only 6 months among you, that the people of Somonauk are not like those people I see on the news every day. I know you are a people who have a great deal more peace in your lives than most. I have seen not only this church, but the other churches in this community have mission after mission that addresses the needs of others, and challenges their membership to slow down and think about others. You are a wonderful people, who have found life in Christ!

But I also know that the world tugs at you, especially during the Christmas season, to hurry up and react, and think only of yourselves. The world tugs at you to be anxious and fearful, and complicate your lives. Don’t do it!  When you feel rushed this holiday season, take a moment to think about what’s really important, the relationships you have not the things you buy. For all who suffer in this season, the good news is, that for those who seek the LORD as your shepherd, your days of suffering will soon be over, and you will find pastures of peace for the living of your life. Amen.  

         

December 3, 2017    Hope in a Hopeless World                            

Since we started our prayer chain in the last month, I have been trying to figure out how to be a good prayer guide. Two of the books held up for us at seminary as modern prayer books were written by the Catholic mystic Thomas Merton and the other the African American mystic Howard Thurman. Each book is filled with a page or a page and a half meditation one topic, and each book has some 50 or more of these meditations.
Each of these meditations is a meditation about a particular problem in human society, a darkness, or fear, or threat to the human community. In the course of these meditations, these mystics reflect upon the human sufferings caused by these problems, pray for ways in which they might address that suffering, and pray for God to engage it beyond their ability.
A week ago, I wrote a prayer meditation upon the human problem of sexual abuse and harassment. As the father of three daughters, and a brother to four sisters, I pray for them that they may not be subject to such harassment. I pray for all women that they may live in a world where this does not happen. I pray for all those whose lives have been scarred by these abominable acts. I pray that those who come forward may be freed of the power of shame and guilt on their lives. I pray that those who come forward may be freed of the power of shame and guilt on their lives - for they did nothing wrong. I pray that people might realize that acknowledging these acts, apologizing and asking for forgiveness for them is the path to reconciliation and healing. I pray that people in this nation, might realize that maintaining political power is not a reason to ignore the victims and reward those who deny the claims. I pray that a just legal process will be instituted in these cases. I pray that those who commit these offenses, might realize that acknowledging these acts, apologizing for them, and seeking forgiveness is the path to reconciliation for both victim and abuser.  I pray that people may learn to draw a distinction between misunderstanding one another, and incidents of harassment and abuse, so that the divisions between men and women may not get out of hand. I pray for people who make false accusations, for they are not solving the problem, but only make it worse. I pray that in each of these cases that they will be handled with thoughtfulness, consideration, respect, seek justice for those who have been wronged, and reconciliation for those who are willing. 
Now this is not a perfect prayer by any means, but in the process of reflecting upon this problem and in opening ourselves to listen for God's Word to us, I believe we can to a greater understanding of this problem, and allow God to speak to us about how to deal with it. The key is remembering Christ, and allowing ourselves to hear, sometimes even what we don't want to hear.  Finally, I believe God grants us a sense of God's presence and the hope of a better world that comes from God's presence. 
In future weeks, I jotted down a list of problems in our world to be addressed through these prayer meditations. I wrote down the problems of gun violence, out of control health care costs, partisan politics, the stewardship of our planet, and the need to care for the least and last in our community of Somonauk. Each of these meditations will seek to invite us to bring a Christ centered perspective to our problems, and challenge us to find ways to speak up and act upon them in ways that can change our world.
And that is where our gospel lesson this morning comes in, the 24th Chapter of Mark has a lot of darkness in it. Mark tells the disciples of the destruction of the temple, and the coming apocalypse. Jesus say that things will be worse after his death, and tells them to Keep Awake, to continue to look for his coming, and to discern the difference between the will of man and the will of God. One of the commentaries I read this week put it this way. At times we look at the world and believe things are just plain hopeless, but then we remember Christ, and we begin to see hope. We see a world that is better than the one we are living in, we hunger and thirst for that world, and trust that in following God's will for our lives, that this better world will come into being among us. 
Brothers and Sisters, Advent is a season of waiting and darkness. The purpose of this waiting is to develop a sense of the hopelessness of the world and the hopefulness of Jesus Christ.  The world would prefer that we celebrate Christmas from Halloween till New Years, that we will not think about the darkness until the end of time. But as Christian I say to you, Keep Awake, Look for Christ, Keep Hope Alive! Then you will indeed be able to celebrate a very Merry Christmas. And that is the good news of Jesus Christ!

November 26, 2017                Totenfest                                             

         It has been my tradition, whether is has been on All Saints Day or on Totenfest, to remember those that have past in the last year. I usually do this by sharing parts of my eulogies for the past year. This year, we had 5 people who the pastors of this church officiated for, and so I asked pastor chuck Maney to share with me his remarks, so that we might reflect on them this morning.

Lou Emma Mannery

Rev. Chuck Maney wrote that Emma lived for many years in Chicago with her aunt. Her Aunt made sure that she was baptized and took her to church regularly. When her aunt’s health deteriorated, she came to live with more of her family in Sandwich. She was in the residential program at Open Door for over 20 years. Emma continued to love the opportunity to go to church.   

Emma was a caring soul. She was nicknamed “Grandma” because she tried to take care of those around her. She always seemed to find someone to care for and fuss over. Her cousin Keena, who was her constant friend and protector through the years, says that Emma tested at a 3-year-old developmental level, but that she lived at a higher level than the testing would acknowledge. She loved her Open Door friends, she loved to go shopping, and she loved to eat fried chicken. Oh, lets not forget, she loved the mailman, certain that he would bring her a check every time she saw him. “Gonna get mad money,” she would say.  

Keena says that Emma often talked about the “Big House.” In time Keena understood that Emma thought that heaven was a big house. Knowing how she loved her Open Door house mates, it is little wonder she would think of heaven as being a “Big House.” As I thought about Emma’s Big House, I thought of John’s gospel. 

Don Miller

Rev. Chuck Maney remembers Don as an example of someone with a great sense of family and community and commitment. Don was active in his church, and was a leader in the local Masons. The Masonic Lodge has long been known as an organization of men of faith and community awareness. Leadership in those ranks is indicative of a man of character and accomplishment. 

 The story of Don’s life begins with the friendships of his youth, and not a few stories of Hi-jnx. Then Don married Florence, and his lifetime commitments began. Unfortunately, Florence died way too soon, and Don, found himself living at home with his infant daughter Debbie, his grandmother, his parents, and his sister  They lived as a unit for nine years. There are plenty of advantages and plenty of challenges when living in close community. Today we are seeing an increasing number of multi-generation households. 

Don married Ruth. The sense of living commitment spread wider. They each brought a child into the marriage. Together, they added two more. Love and commitment held the family together, but it did not prevent dementia. Don cared for Ruth at home, and continued to faithfully attend to her needs once she entered the Nursing Home. Many Somonauk residents made sure I knew what an example of faithfulness Don set caring for Ruth. 

Finally, Don and Doris married. The tree of life and commitment continued to spread. They set up home in Arizona, and by multiple reports their Arizona home became a favorite vacation destination. They were regarded as great hosts, and fun people to be with. By all accounts, it was the commitment of Doris that enabled Don to live as long and as well as he was able. 

Duane Lackey

Duane Lackey passed away fairly soon after I arrived at Union as the pastor. I knew him as person who welcomed me to town and made me feel comfortable from his bed at the nursing home. As I spoke to others about Duane, they talked about him being someone who knew everyone, who was always waving at people. They told me that he was a good friend, someone you could count on. They told me about his walking point in Vietnam, and about looking up a friend who had gone into service. They told me about him being the town santa, about his playing a supporting role in so many community events, even his planning for an upcoming reunion. I love the story about how he got started as a Santa, taking over for someone who gave gifts to needy families.

Cindy of course told me about their meeting and the mouse game at the Sandwich fair. She told me them about hanging out together for a while with friends, then going on a first date, and Duane proposing to her. Cindy told me about his devotion to her, and to his family, and to his relatives. She told me about the friends he had, who were there for him as he battled cancer, driving him to numerous treatments.

Brian Tucker  

Brian Tucker passed away Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood, IL. In Brian’s life, the authenticity of Brian’s faith played out in the communities he was a part of. Not only was he part of a loving family, but he found a home and family at Open door. So much so, that at times when he was with his family, and was ready to leave, he would say he wanted to go home. And his family was not upset, but grateful, that he had a place he called home. In addition to this family, he had his church family, who he dearly loved, and with whom he steadfastly and faithfully gathered for worship. Through the life that came through this faith and through these communities, he ran, and swam, and hiked, and camped out, and danced, and loved music and sang. He knew friendships and love. He memorized Scriptures and Hymns. He loved the Sandwich fair, and participated in special Olympics. From the stories his family shared with me, he never let his troubles get him down, or keep him paralyzed, but lived a full and rich life, which they will remember, and for which he will be remembered by those who knew him and loved him.

James Wood

In my remembrance of James Wood, I recalled his life in the way he shared his Christian faith in the living of his live, greeting the children with a smile, having a genuine concern for them, listening, having common sense, and conducting himself with self control. In doing this, he became respected and loved the community in which they serve.

I also remembered his life in the church, he served as a deacon two terms, trustee four terms, and endowments 2 terms. He made and paid his pledge in January, and then gave to the church the rest of the year, over and above his pledge, many times anonymously. He bought tickets for church events, and handed them out. If he saw something at the church that needed to be done, he did it. When the church asked for volunteers, he didn’t assume it meant someone else, he assumed it meant him, and he followed through.

He spoke encouraging words to at least a dozen members of the church in their times of trouble, and probably a great many more. Numerous notes that I read, spoke of his thoughtfulness for others, and his quiet, unassuming spirit. And when his son passed, when many people would give up on their faith, his faith helped him to get through that time of tragedy, and he did not waiver in his commitment to God.

One of the more familiar texts for funerals comes from the 14^th chapter of the gospel of John. There Jesus tells us that he is going to prepare dwelling places for his disciples in his father’s mansions. I believe that these dwelling places are created in our earthly lives, through the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us. In those moments, we create moments that will live eternally, and into which we will enter, when we reach our heavenly homes. There we will be re-united with all who have gone before us, and live in the beauty and glory of those moments.

In each of those who passed this year, we saw this spirit of Christ in their lives. The moments of compassion, faithfulness, joy and love that created those dwelling places in which they now eternally rest. Moments which made a difference in our lives, and have made a difference in our communities. We have been truly blessed with their presence, and we give God thanks for each of them. 

November 19, 2017             Give Thanks                                          

           On this wonderful Sunday morning, I’m going to start with a very sad story. This story comes from Father Andrew Greeley, and it reveals one of the great illnesses of humanity. The story goes that there was a young man, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Within weeks he went from a dull headache to torturous pain. All of the man’s friends

and family withdrew from him, not knowing what to say or do, only his wife and mother stayed close to care for him. They went to many a surgeon, who declined to operate. Then a famous surgeon whom they had written, agreed to look into his case. The tests and x-rays were all performed and the doctor agreed to operate, warning them that the man could die on the table, but that the doctor felt confident that he could get the tumor. The couple agreed to take the risk. After hours of surgery the surgeon came out and announced, “I got it!”. The man returned home recovered, and went on to a successful life and career. So what’s sad about that, you might say, well 20 years later, the wife of the man saw the obituary of the doctor in the paper. “We should go”, said the wife, but the man replied, “I’d like to, but it’s on the weekend, and I have an important golf tournament to go to.” Yep, that’s the sad part of the story. I suppose you can see where I’m going with this, the man in the story is one of the other nine lepers, healed, but not well.

         In Seminary, I had an old testament professor who taught us to read the psalms. And when he came to psalm 100, and the other psalms of praise he said, “To live is to give thanks, and to give thanks is to live.” Now I don’t have as many years as some of you, but in those years I have come to realize that some people give of themselves only if they feel they must, perhaps as CS Lewis says, out of concern for what others may think of them if they don’t. And some people give of themselves because they want to be a part of whatever they are asked to give to. For some of these people, not being invited or asked or allowed to contribute is a denial of who they are. We should all be so lucky to have this spirit, for it is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Life!

         Now I have only been a pastor of this church for 5 months, most of it over the summer, but I have already witnessed the spirit of this church and this community. In the last month I have seen people who gave up time with family to speak at a funeral or help with a church function. I have heard people talk about being disappointed about missing an opportunity to contribute to a mission they did not know about. I have seen people passionately speak about and support the missions of this church. I routinely see people sign up and show up for the work of the church, and of course, they enjoy the fellowship – that’s what God wants us to do! But I also get a strong sense, that this giving of ourselves at Union Congregational is our way of giving thanks to God, and that is what makes us alive, and what makes Union Congregational a living church!

         This past week I fretted about our Stewardship campaign, was I  to heavy handed, did I make people feel bad, did what I have to say make a difference. Now I know that people shouldn't give to the church because of the pastor good or bad. But I do know that a pastor's behavior or preaching can affect people's faith and giving. Fortunately, my fears were unfounded. The latest report I have is that 19 pledges of nearly $62,000 came in. That is an increase of nearly $17,0000 over last year! And I just want to give thanks, for the generosity, commitment and giving spirit of our membership! And I give thanks not just for those who pledged, but also those who have not, for many still support the church without pledging. And I give thanks for all who contribute to our church, whatever the amount, even if it is in helping to serve, providing cakes or pies or food, or serving on a board or committee of the church! I give thanks for all of you!!

         For I know that there are widows among us, with only coins. I know that there are people with college debt, and health issues, and lost loved one’s, and financial problems, and on and on, and still you give to the church, giving thanks to God for what blessings you do have, for your church family, and for Jesus Christ! You give not to be seen by others, but to give thanks to God, to be a part of God’s plan and mission here at Union Congregational, and in the world. You give because you already know, that in giving of yourself, you are giving thanks to God, and that is what it means to be alive, and well!

         And that’s the good news of Jesus Christ!  

November 12, 2017                    Dedication                                                                                   
       On Sunday November 12, Pete Dell presented a message on the importance of Union Congregational Church in his life, and it's impact on the community. Earlier in the week, I sent out a letter speaking about my financial commitment and dedication to Christ's church. 

From the pastor….

          I am a tither. For the last 25 years, I have given 10% of my net cash salary to the church. This year, that means about $4,000 per year, $320 per month, or $80 per week. I am a tither because the bible tells us to give our first fruits to God. First fruits are a tithe, 10%, of the gifts God has given to us. The bible says this not once or twice, but over 140 times. I am also a tither because I cannot ask people to give to the church if I am not willing to lead by example. It is possible to be a tither, and there are people in the church who are tithers.  

          Some people are afraid that if they tithe they will go broke, or be unable to afford what they need. I can tell you from personal experience that this is not true. For the last 25 years I have tithed, I have raised three children, made house payments, bought cars, paid my bills, financed 3 college educations, given my kids, dance, violin, and singing lessons, and supported their participation in basketball and soccer leagues. I take yearly vacations, go out to dinner, have hobbies, attend concerts and baseball games, and have an active social life. Being a tither has pushed me to focus on God and others rather than myself, and rewarded me with treasure in heaven, a lifetime of experience making a difference in people’s lives.

          Being a tither has also been good for the churches I have served. In those churches, I have led by example, and others have stepped up their giving, so that their churches no longer struggled. There is a huge difference between being a part of a church struggling to pay bills, and a church that is free to focus on mission and spiritual growth. People want to be a part of that kind of church! I also find that when people are invested in the church, the church becomes far more meaningful to them. God blesses their lives and the lives of those they serve in mission and ministry.

          Now I realize that most of us have already filled our personal budgets with so many items that it would be impossible to start tithing tomorrow. So I have included a tithing chart, to help you focus on where you are, and to consider how you might move towards tithing. Find your income on the chart, and determine what percent you give weekly. If you are giving 1% consider doubling it. If you are giving 2% or more, consider increasing it 1%. Like the widow who gave all she had to God, trust that God will take care of you, and indeed God will!

Pastor Ted

November 5, 2017                   Mission                                

         This is the second week of our stewardship program, this week we focused on the mission of Christ's church, and of the mission accomplished here at Union Congregational. On this Sunday, we invited 4 people to come forward and share their passion for mission. At the conclusion of their presentations, I shared these remarks. 

         When I was in seminary, we read that passage from Matthew that we had in our gospel reading this morning, and then we were asked, what was the difference between Judaism and Christianity in Jesus day?  The difference between Judaism and Christianity in the first century, is that Judaism  believed God’s salvation was somewhere far off in the future, and the followers of Jesus believed that God's salvation was something that could be realized here and now, through faith in Jesus Christ!

         In 25 years of ministry, I have been blessed with being a part of three congregations, who have sought to realize the kingdom of heaven in their communities here and now. All of these churches have provide money and food donations to feed those who are hungry, they have delivered meals on wheels to those who could not feed themselves, some have provided shelters and meals for those who are homeless, some have provide water filters to villages that had no clean water, helped renovate homes for single families to afford, helped build homes for those who could not afford them, provided funds to send not just food overseas, but agricultural expertise to help third world farmers, some of them have created scholarships to help women and men learn to manage their crops, animals, and create new businesses. Some of these churches, have advocated for the rights of immigrants to fair wages and treatment, for the rights of the handicapped, for farmers who were losing their farms, for the sick, the elderly, and the mentally challenged. Some of these churches, provided grief counseling for children and parents, nursing home worship services, marriage enrichment groups, and provided space for those addicted to drugs and alcohol. Some of these churches held educational seminars to deal with racism, nationalism, homophobia, and religious intolerance.

         In all of these ministries, the members of these churches have not sat and waited for a better day to come, for Jesus to come on the clouds, or waited for God to do it all for us. In faith, they have sought to realize God’s kingdom and presence in the work they do together, and at times their work has been rewarded with moments when they have experience God’s kingdom breaking into their midst. 

         Last week, at the close of our service, I mentioned far to small a list of the things this church does in it’s mission to community, in it’s seeking to realize the kingdom of heaven here in Somonauk. And so I thought some more about it this week. The members of Union Congregational in the past year has had an angel fund to help out with gas, food, and other emergency aid. They have contributed to the Good Samaritan clergy fund, that helps people in both Sandwich and Somonauk, they have hosted community feasts to feed the hungry, and promote fellowship in the community, they have delivered meals on wheels for three months to feed people who are unable to make meals themselves, they provide space for the girl scouts, the lion’s, and alcoholics anonymous in their building. They support a Sunday School program, and a weekly joint youth ministry group with 2 other churches. They have participated and contributed to the Food Resource Bank, CROP Walk, Hurricane Relief Efforts. They have a choir that sings not just on Sunday, but is the core of a community choir. The Sunshine band not only gives of their time to church functions, but also gives over $1000 per year to local missions. They support the work of the Illinois Conference, helping churches to participate in the ministries of the conference, help churches with clergy searches, an outdoor ministry program and more.

         The church supports a pastor, who preaches the gospel on Sunday mornings, participates in seasonal and special community services, provides wedding and funeral services and the counseling and visits that go with them.  The pastor attends conference, association, DeKalb clergy, Sandwich Somonauk Clergy, and Hospital and Lectionary groups, and even drops in monthly at the barber shop, country kitchen, and Sandwich men’s fellowship. Leads Nursing home services, visits the sick and shut-ins, visits with those who have lost loved ones, and takes communions to those shut-in. Meets with Deacons, Council, Trustees, Adult Sunday School, Christian Ed, and Stewardship groups in the church.

           Spiritually, the church has been a place for people to be comforted in time of sorrow, helped in time of need, a peaceful place to experience God’s presence. It has proclaimed a message of God’s justice, love, mercy, forgiveness and hope for our lives, when the world has seemed dark. It has been a place of learning, a place of celebration, and a place to draw strength for the living of our lives. As our Sunday School group noted last week, we are rich in God’s blessings through the work of Union Congregational Church, but we don’t often stop to see or appreciate it! We don’t often realize that in our work together, we are realizing God’s kingdom and presence in our lives, in our community, and throughout the world.

        One final thought, could you imagine what the world would look like without your church, without all it has done in your community, without all the missions of your denomination, without it ministering to your parents, grandparents and great grandparents, without it weekly proclaiming the gospel and being there to sustain those who walk in faith. For the last 2,000 years, through it's mission, the church has been a light in the darkness. It has brought the kingdom of heaven into being in people's lives and to their communities, we would be lost without it! And that's the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

October 29, 2017                          Blessings  
              
              From October 29th, Union Congregational participated in a four week stewardship program that focused on blessings, mission, dedication and thanksgiving. For these four weeks we did not follow the lectionary.
                                                                         

In one of his books, world religions professor Huston Smith compares the scientific world view, with the religious world view. The scientific world view tells us that the universe came into being through a big bang, that there is no meaning or purpose to life, that we are all just free to use and discard the world as we see fit. The  scientific worldview tells us that this life is all there is, and that the goal of life is to get as much as we can out of life before we die, no matter what the consequences for others. Huston says, that to live by a scientific worldview leads to chaos, disorder, violence and death in human society.

In opposition to this is the religious worldview, which tells us that creation came into being at the direction of our creator, that the meaning of our lives is to realize our creator’s purpose, and that purpose is to care for creation and each other. In this view, who we are and how we live has positive consequences for our life in this world, and for life beyond this world. The value of religion, Huston says, is that it gives order and direction to our lives, and creates communities in which people discover and share the abundance of life that is given to us. 

Let me be clear. For the first two years of college, I studied Bio-chemistry. I have no problem with scientific facts, or the scientific method for discovering facts about the physical world. Further, there is no problem for me between science and religion. Science tells us about the truth of the physical world, religion tells us about the spiritual truth of our lives. Science as a world view is hopeless and destructive, but religion, when not corrupted, has the ability to give hope and create order and life. 

I thought of this because the Hebrew people, through the story of creation announce this religious world view, they announce that the world was created by God, that God had a purpose for us, and that purpose was to be stewards of creation. In doing so, the image of God would shine forth in each of us. For when we live in God’s image. Creation is something to be cared for, not stripped of it’s resources. People are valuable in and of themselves, they are not disposable creatures. The gifts we are given are blessings to be shared, not hoarded away or hidden in the ground. And everything including ourselves belongs to God, even ourselves.

When Bob Scheiler used to do Stewardship messages for churches in the Illinois Conference, he used to lay out for them all of the blessings that God had given to them. God gave to us, the Sun, the Moon, the planets and stars, the mountains, the forests, the oceans, the deserts. God gave us vegetables, minerals, animals, and yes, even those annoying insects. God gave us air to breath and water to drink. All of these things, given to us by our creator, for they are his, and we are called to care for them.

God gave us people. God made us in God’s image, and caused us to be born in a certain time and place, God gave us the parents and grandparents, the brothers and sisters, the aunt’s and uncles, the husbands and wives, the friends and coworkers, the people of our towns, cities, states, nation, and even the people of the world. All of these, were given to us by our creator, for they are his, and we are called to care for them.

God gave us our talents and abilities, our hair and eye color, our size and shape, our uniqueness in that no two people out of billions, would be alike. God gave to us experiences to help us grow and to use those abilities. God gave us vocations, callings to use the gifts we have been given, and God created the jobs that we have found to use those gifts to earn a living for ourselves, and to help others. All of these gifts were given to us by our creator, for they are his, and we are called to share them.

God gave us Jesus Christ and through him, the Church. So that we might know the message of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness, so that we might know that the world is filled with and abundance of grace and blessing, so that we might know of God’s love towards us. In that church, God gave us people of faith, people who became our brothers and sisters, people who set an example for us in giving God praise and worship, people who walked with us in our times of darkness, people who sang in the choir, joined together in missions, taught Sunday school, cared for us in times of sickness and loss, and worked to build up the church, and gave of their time, talents, and treasure, to make sure that the gospel message was proclaimed in the world.  

God gave us all these blessings, so that we might realize our purpose as God’s creations, that we might be the images of God that we were created to be. That we may be a blessing to one another, that we may give blessings as God has blessed us, that we may love one another as God has loved us. And there’s an important point here, God’s love for us comes first – proving God’s faith in us, and the way of faith is for us to give of ourselves first, to love others first, for that is part of God’s image. As Paul says, the world thinks this is foolishness, but it is the way of salvation.

This religious worldview of blessing is what allowed the widow in Jesus day to give her two copper coins. She gave all she had because she believed that God would take care of her. And I believe God did!  A number of years ago, I went to visit a construction worker who got laid off. He had one kid in college and two in high school, a house payment, health insurance issues, and etc. I expected him to be down in the dumps, but he wasn't. He told me that he had been laid off once before and that his family had gotten through it. He found a way to make ends meet, mostly through family and friends who gave him opportunities to work, and through cutting back to those things in his life that were really important. He believe that God would show him a way to keep going, and would walk with him each step of the way. Sure enough, 6 months later, this big tough construction worker, was making enough money selling tea cups and china on the internet o get him through his layoff!

This theology of blessing has saved many a life, and given hope to people in hopeless times. It has filled them with the power to pick themselves up and look for the many blessings God has provided to us. It is indeed a worldview that leads to life. And that is the Good News of Jesus Christ! 

October 15, 2017            James Wood Eulogy                               

          This was not my sermon for October 15th, I was at a memorial service for my father, but earlier I did speak at a memorial for James Wood at the Somonauk High School, and these are my remarks.            

     James Wood was an educator, and a Christian. Over the years, when the United Church of Christ surveys their members, they find that they have the highest percentage of educators in their membership. I’m not suggesting all educators should be members of the UCC, we need educators in all our denominations and churches.

         Now most educators understand, that to allow the voice of one denomination, or one religion, into the schools where they teach, isn’t in the interest of religious freedom. Many of them understand, that the combination of the Roman State and Jewish Religion ended with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. And so they don’t preach religion to the children with whom they are entrusted. They know there are better ways.

         The first better way, is to display the spiritual qualities of Christ in their daily life. They greet the children with a smile when they come to school. Their genuine concern is for their welfare and education. They listen, they have common sense, they conduct themselves with self-control, they seek to be fair to all concerned, they say what needs to be said, and their tongues do not wag. Those who do this, come to be respected and loved by the community in which they serve.

         The second better way, is their life in the church. They know that people will find out, about their relationship with Christ’s Church. I asked members to give me memories of James Wood, and I got over a dozen notes. He served as a deacon two terms, trustee four terms, and endowments 2 terms. He made and paid his pledge in January, and then gave to the church the rest of the year, over and above his pledge, many times anonymously. He bought tickets for church events, and handed them out. If he saw something at the church that needed to be done, he did it. When the church asked for volunteers, he didn’t assume it meant someone else, he assumed it meant him, and he followed through.

     He spoke encouraging words to at least a dozen members of the church in their times of trouble, and probably a great many more. Numerous notes that I read, spoke of his thoughtfulness for others, and his quiet, unassuming spirit. And when his son passed, when many people would give up on their faith, his faith helped him to get through that time of tragedy, and he did not waiver in his commitment to God.

         Two notes spoke specifically of his time driving a school bus, one of a lost child who didn’t normally take his bus but was supposed to get on his bus to go to a grandparent. The note said, that when Jim was informed, he found the child and was half-way to their house before the grandparent could make it to town. The other note was about a child who when asked who the most important person at his school was said, “James Wood - my bus driver”. I’m sure part of that was because the school was named after him, but I am also sure it was because he was the most important person at the school. The note went onto say, that he was like a father to them all, and that all of them were his kids.

         A few months ago, I remarked about the wonderful Christian Spirit of this community. And again today, I’m going to remark about it. Outside town there was a Food Resource Bank Harvest Day. These people from numerous counties and churches have raised nearly 1 million dollars over the last 20 some years, and their efforts bring lifetime food security to the lives of nearly 20,000 people a year. It’s no nonsense Christian behavior. It doesn’t push a political agenda, or lift up any one religion over the other, it’s all about the mission, feeding hungry people. I think you have this Spirit in you, because of wonderful Christian people like James Wood, who set the example. His mission was all about educating the children of this community, and he did it because that’s who he was, an educator and a Christian.

         The apostle Paul says that our recognition of this Spirit, produces the first fruits of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This spirit working in us, can work amazing miracles in our lives, even greater miracles than the one’s Christ did. Don’t ever lose this Spirit! It is the Spirit of Life! Remember these Christians who have made your community what it is, let the memories of them create you anew, live in their Spirit, and they will never be separated from you. And in this we can be assured, if they are still alive in us, and we experience their presence in our lives, there is indeed a resurrection to eternal life that is our through faith in Jesus Christ. Amen.  

October  8, 2017          Keep Your Eye on the Light                                                                                                         
        This past week, on Wednesday Evening, I attended our Epic Youth Group meeting. We enjoyed a meal together and then we moved to the youth room for bible study. Now going back to last year, the group has been studying Jesus Sermon on the mount, as a way of helping us understand what it means to be a Christian.

        This week, we read the passage where Jesus tells us that the eye is the lamp of the body. If you eye is healthy, than your body will be full of light, but if your eye is unhealthy, then your body will be full of darkness. And if the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness…

          As I meditated upon this saying of Jesus, I thought about the events of the past week, specifically the shootings in Las Vegas. A lot of the news commentators, spend their time focusing on people’s fears about this happening in their communities, about the divisions and hatred that create this kind of violence. But I also noticed, that some of the commentators talked about the people in the crowd, protecting each other, dragging people to safety, of tending to those who were injured, and police and other safety personnel risking their own lives, to stop the gunman from firing.

        In the last few weeks, it seems like a common theme, we have seen tragedies in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and Las Vegas. We have heard the news focus on the darkness of the devastation, suffering, and loss  - yet right along side that, we keep hearing stories of light, stories of the compassion, and goodness of people reaching out to help one another. And despite the constant political rhetoric in our nation these days about division, immigration, other religions and foreigners being the cause of our problems, we see people of all religions, races, immigrants or not, working together, and sacrificing of themselves, to help one another. In these events, we see both light and darkness, but the question for each one of us is, which one will we choose to see and which one we will choose for the living of our lives.

        One of the sermons I read this week is from Dr. Will Williamon.  Dr. Willamon suggests that instead of focusing on Making America Great Again, which seems to lead to all kinds of division and darkness, that we should instead be focusing on Making America United Again – which leads to unity and peace. And the spirit of unity, that he recommends for all of us who are Christians, is found in our Epistle reading this morning, the spirit of Jesus Christ.  Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

       This spirit is the light by which we are called to view the world. This spirit is the light by which we are called to act on behalf of not just ourselves but of others, brothers and sisters throughout our nation and around the globe. If our eyes only behold the darkness and fear generated by those seeking power over us, then indeed the darkness will be great, the violence and suffering and death unending. But if we seek to live by the light of Christ's humility, obedience to God, and service, than God will make our nation great again. Not by any political leader, but by God's presence in our lives seeking justice and peace for all.

        One final note. There will always be people who question the authority of others. They will say that they share the light and we share the darkness. In our gospel lesson Jesus points out two things. First, the Pharisees have placed their political beliefs above their religious beliefs. That is a sure sign of darkness. The other is that the work of those who share the light results in the fulfilment of the kingdom of heaven in our midst. Peace, justice, unity, compassion, faithfulness, healing, reconciliation forgiveness and etc. It results in the blind seeing, the lame walking, the unclean cleansed, and good news proclaimed to the poor.  When these things occur, than we can be certain we are seeing and walking by the light of God, and that is the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

October 1, 2017                 God's Vineyard                                                                                             

       Once upon a time there was young pastor, who came to a church that didn’t have a youth group. The good news was that they had a basketball hoop in their parking lot, and a number of the neighborhood kids came to play basketball after school. So the pastor about 4 pm would go out and shoot hoops with the jr high and high school kids for a couple times a week. After a few months, as the weather turned colder, he invited the kids and their friends to come to the church on Sunday night to play games and eat pizza. 

     The first night, he had 10 kids show up, and they had a great time playing board games. As the weeks went on, he got the group up to 20 or more kids who game for a variety of games, and of course food. The problem was that as this went on, there was grumbling in the church. The church hall is getting dirty, some said, others complained that things in the kitchen, were not getting put away in the right places. Questions began to be asked about who was paying for all this food, and what were these kids learning playing games anyway. Finally, one of the members confronted the pastor, we just can’t afford to waste money on these kids who don’t contribute to the church, we should use our resources to take care of our members. To this the pastor replied, Well, why don’t we look at this from Jesus’ perspective. To which the member replied, leave Jesus out of this, this is about our church.

         Now just to be clear, this story is not about Union Congregational, nor is it about anything I have seen or heard members in this church say or do. This is entirely a story about our gospel lesson this morning, the story of the vineyard. In the story of the vineyard, God creates the

vineyard and calls the people to come work in it, over time, they decide the vineyard is theirs, and when God sends his workers to receive the fruits of the vineyard, they treat them horribly. Finally, God sends his son, whom they kill, believing the vineyard will now be theirs. Now most of us believe that this would certainly not happen, or certainly could not happen in the church. But like my story this morning about the young pastor, sadly it does.

     When I look at this parable, I ask myself, what is the fruit that God is looking for from those of us who work in the church. Is it not the fruit of being a welcoming community, of sharing God’s love with others, of going forth to meet the needs of those who are suffering in the world, of bearing their burdens with compassion, mercy, and forgiveness, healing and transforming people’s lives. Is not this the fruit of righteousness that God calls the workers in the vineyard to produce? Of course it is!

         The book that we are studying in Adult Sunday School is called Rich Church/Poor Church, and it contrasts the two visions that each church has for itself. The Poor Church has a survivalist vision, which seeks to take care of itself, the Rich Church has a vision of reaching out to the community, of mission and ministry to others, of making a difference in people’s lives. The  Poor Church maintains itself for the sake of caring for it's own members, the Rich Church believes it's job is to call others to Christ, and make disciples. The consequence of believing like a Poor Church, is that the congregation dwindles, and eventually new tenants take over the church. The consequence of believing like a Rich Church, is bearing the fruit of God's righteousness, and eternal life for the congregation, and for all who choose to work in the vineyard! And that is the good news of Jesus Christ!  Amen. 

September 24                        Lost and Found                                                 

         In the parking lot of Immanuel UCC in East St. Louis, a group of people meet each day, hoping to have the opportunity to work. Each day during the week, farmers come by with their pickups looking for farmhands to help them. Inside the church, there is a daycare for the workers children. It’s their mission to the community.

         As I read this weeks gospel lesson, I tried to imagine the worker’s experience in the reading, and I tried to think about what it would be to be one of those workers, waiting, hoping for work.

         It’s 5:30 am, and your standing in a parking lot with two dozen other workers, wondering if you there will be enough work for everyone, wondering if you will be one of the lucky one’s chosen. Lucky enough to earn a day’s pay, $80 to pay the rent, keep the electric on, buy food for your family, take care of your children. One farmer shows, then two, and another, one of them knows you, and signals for you to come to work. Today you will make earn money, you feel good, you feel grace.

         Around 10 am, you take your first break of the day, cool refreshing water a cinnamon roll in your lunch bag from the day before. The temperature is 85 degrees, it’s gonna be a hot day, but your making money. You see that the farmer has brought additional workers to the field. One of them in Juan, who hasn’t worked in two days, your happy for him, he just became a father again and needs the money. And you again have that feeling, of grace.

         At 1 pm, it’s time for a siesta, the work will start again at 4 pm. You sit under a tree beside the fields with your coworkers, some talk, others play cards, most eat the rest of what’s in their lunch bags. Sandwich, chips, veggies, packed by the church. It’s in the nineties, but in the shade it’s in the 80’s and there is just enough breeze to make you feel comfortable. Grace

          Work starts again at 4 pm, and you notice that the farmer has gone back one more time for workers, they must have been really desperate for work to hang around the church lot so long. But at least they will make something, maybe just enough for food the next day. There it is again, that feeling of Grace.

         It’s 7 pm, time to get paid, the farmer calls the workers up, starting with the last hired, they walk away with smiles on their faces, the next group, the one with juan in it, gets paid, he comes up the line and shows you $80 a full day’s pay! You wonder what you will get, $100 or more. You get to the front of the line, and the farmer hands you, $80, you walk away stunned. It’s unfair, you say, my work has been diminished, see if I work for that so and so again. As you walk away, you notice that you have lost something, something you had all day long, that sense of Grace.

         

         Now I have heard this gospel quoted as a justification for employers paying what they want. I have heard this gospel quoted by workers to point out the injustice of employers. I have heard this gospel quoted by people who say God is the farmer, but I wonder how God could be so unjust. And then, a few years ago, I read this story and noted, that Jesus doesn’t say that the parable is about God, Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like…   

          You see, in the kingdom of heaven, there are people who come early and people who come late, all are paid the same, all receive salvation. Those who come early, know God’s grace in their lives, and are given life an strength by it. They are the fortunate one’s who get to be a part of God’s plan their whole lives. Those who come later, have been lost and anxious for part of their lives, but now they have found their way. Those who come latest, God has had the least impact on their lives, perhaps they have come to God, because their mistakes have piled up so heavily upon them. But all receive God’s grace. And God is not fooled, only those who come to believe, who come to work, are paid.

          I often have people question me about death bed confessions, and salvation, just like this story, I wonder if that doesn’t say more about their faith, than about the faith of the person they are questioning. Like the worker from my story above, believe in God’s love for you, believe in God’s grace towards you, be happy for those who come later to work, and be happy for those who have struggled their whole lives, but at last found God’s grace in their lives. If you can do this, than you truly believe, and God’s grace will never be taken from you, and that’s the good news of Jesus Christ!

September 19, 2017     Forgive as You Have Been Forgiven                                                      

         Our gospel lesson this morning begins with Peter asking Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?”  

         I love how Peter offers an answer before Jesus has a chance to respond, it reminds me of the numerous times a church member where I served asked me how often they were supposed to forgive someone, sometimes they don’t really ask me as much as tell me – I only give someone one, or two, or three chances before I  give up on them – and then look out if they ever cross me again. That’s reasonable, isn’t it? Sound familiar?

         Jesus answer on the other hand, sounds quite unreasonable, not seven times, seventy times seven. Now I’ve read some sermons where preachers have said that Jesus gives such a ridiculous number to point out that we should always be forgiving, and that counting times we forgive others really isn’t forgiveness, cause when we reach our limit, it’s back to our good ole worldly vengeful ways.

         And while I would agree with that, I think Jesus is also pointing to something else with his answer, something that the rest of our lesson is about. You see, Jesus answer recalls the story of Lamech. After Cain killed Able, vengeance and violence grows among human beings. At one point, one of Cain’s descendants, Lamech brags about killing 7 men because someone struck him, and that if someone killed one of his own he would avenge himself 70 times upon them. So in his answer, I think Jesus is telling Peter, and his disciples, that through forgiving others, they are reversing the curse of violence and vengeance started by Cain’s murder, and Lamech’s retribution. And then, Jesus tells them a story, about only forgiving people so far.

         In the story, a man owes 10,000 talents, we all know talents are a gold measurement, and 10,000 of them might amount to 1 billion dollars today, the point is that there is no way the man could pay the king back, and so he begs for mercy, and the King, thinking about the pointlessness of putting the man in prison, forgives the debt.

         Now you might think that this would change a person, but of course you know the story the man goes out and runs into someone who owes him 100 denari, not a particularly large debt, but pretty much for the average person - say $4-5,000 today. He demands the money, and when he doesn’t get it, he has the man tossed in jail. Of course, the king finds out about it, and decides to pursue the original debt, which interestingly enough, involves torture. Eeeeeek!

         Two things strike me about this story. The first is that we could see in this story, God who has forgiven a multitude of our sins in Jesus Christ, and so we should show mercy to others as God has shown mercy to us. But that’s not how it happens, people who have been shown mercy, so often seem to forget mercy when it comes to others. Remember that 7 times comment by Peter…. Or that three chances thing I mentioned before.

Even those who believe themselves to be Christians, often put people off, and even their children off, by praising God’s forgiveness of us, and then not practicing it towards others. The usual excuse goes like this, you can only turn the other cheek so many times. But practicing forgiveness, doesn’t mean allowing yourself to be abused, and it doesn’t mean one cannot seek justice, it simply means not living by the worldly ways of vengeance and retribution. 

         And the other thing that strikes me, is that age old adage, What comes around, goes around. Meaning that if we continue in the never ending cycle of vengeance and retribution, it will eventually come back to torture us, and will do so unendingly. This warning Jesus gives us, reminds us, how desperately we need salvation from the endless torture of this world. Yes, I think Jesus story says there are very real consequences for our not practicing forgiveness in our lives. Real consequences for our lives if we do not actively model forgiveness for others in an unforgiving world.

      Vengeance and violence poison our hearts and our minds, it poisons our relationship with God and with others. It poison’s our world with hardship and suffering. Think of the many times in your life when you have faced a vengeful person, or indeed how your own vengeance upon another went to far, and hurt you or even someone you loved. I can think of two occasions, where parishoners allowed vengeance to poison their relationship with their church, where they accused others in the church of doing things, they never did, or were never present to do. Vengeance is indeed one of the most powerful spirits that destroy people’s lives.  But the Good News is, that forgiveness has the power to overcome vengeance, and to end the grip of sin and death it places upon our lives, and that is the Good News of Jesus Christ. Amen.