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.