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Sermon Video – September 20, 2020 – Brought Back from Death to Life
Based on Genesis 22:1-14 and Romans 6:12-14. Preached by Rev. Brian Ellison, Stated Clerk, Synod of Mid-America.
https://youtu.be/NCfsHC1tDT0
The remainder of the worship service is unavailable due to technical difficulties.
Reflection and Prayers for the Day September 15
A Season of Peace: Monday, September 14
Making Peace as a Child
Peace in Relationships
Suzanne Gangemi
Matthew 5:9
You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family. (“The Message”)
Reflection: Children’s Ministry and peacemaking go together like hugs and kisses, like mud puddles and splashing feet. Depending on the context, young children can be very open to new ideas and learning, and they are generally quick to forgive. With guidance and trust, they welcome those who are different, as they become cognizant of their many similarities. Digging a trench in a sandbox is much more fun with a buddy. You don’t need to speak the same language or come from the same neighborhood to play a game of chase. Laughter, like tears, is so much better shared.
For the adults that are privileged with the opportunity to be involved in Children’s Peacemaking, it is well to remember that it is guaranteed to be an exhilarating, exhausting and enlightening endeavor. It is much easier to teach peace when all the “isms” have not yet been internalized. Each of us (teacher and student alike) needs to know that we are beautiful in the sight of God, but not any more beautiful than our neighbor.
Remembering an almost five-year-old, who told me that she needed to know about “stuff like cooperation and negotiation before I go to kindergarten,” I am very aware of the plethora of joys and hopes children discover and share about many things, including peacemaking. After all, children of any race, gender, ability, sexuality or economic position seek the peace of affirmation and love — just like the rest of us older children.
Practice for Peacemakers: Find a stash of crayons in your home or order a box of 64. Collect some paper for your creation. Light a candle, put on some peaceful music and begin. Choose a crayon and doodle, draw or simply move a crayon across the page with light strokes. Think about the movement of your hand and what an awesome creation it is, while contemplating the wonders of which this color reminds you. Perhaps write words using an orange crayon (pumpkin, fall leaves, a harvest moon, the peace of a campfire). When you are ready, change to another color. Continue until your papers are full or you have run out of crayon colors. Take five deep breaths and say, “Amen!”
Prayer: Amazing God, wrap all of your children in the comfort of peace. Help us imagine and create ways to be a good neighbor. Forgive us when we are quick to judge, and help us muddle through the misinformation we devour. Remind us of the joy of children, and encourage us at all ages to play (maybe with a five-year-old). Amen.
Now retired, Suzanne Gangemi most recently served as director of family life ministry at Mountain Rise UCC in Fairport, NY. Much of her career was focused on building programming centered on helping children to grow into their calling as peacemakers.
Sermon Podcast – September 13, 2020 – One More Time
Preached by Jonathan Kimball. Based on Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35.
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Worship Podcast – September 13, 2020
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Video of Worship on September 13, 2020
Season of Peace Reflection September 11
Ritual for a Lifelong Peacemaker
Peace Within
Rev. Richard A. Koenig
Philippians 4:6b
… in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (NRSV)
Reflection: Scattered around the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution in southwestern New York State are more than 20 “Peace Poles.” During the summer season, outside the Hall of Missions and across the brick walk from the Hall of Philosophy, people gather daily at one of these Peace Poles at 8:55 a.m. for a five-minute prayer service for peace.
Prayers for peace — made daily — in five minutes of ritual: not much time in which to transform a world filled with violent conflict! And yet I think of Bob.
Every summer while at Chautauqua, even into his early nineties, Bob faithfully left the breakfast table to make the walk to participate, adding his presence, his prayers to that daily Peace Prayer. That consistent act, that ritual, was a microcosm of Bob’s whole life, and it continues to remind me of the power that this kind of consistency can bring in driving our individual commitment to peace.
In his role as a high-level denominational executive in the United Church of Christ, Bob had spent his whole life on the front lines, working for peace. Bob worked for civil rights and the anti-war movement in the 1960s, developed Christian Education materials in support of the Women’s Liberation movement, inclusive language and LGBT rights. He traveled to South Africa during the time of apartheid and was fully engaged in the national conversations around peace and justice issues well into the early part of this century. He continued to march against the death penalty for decades past retirement.
Bob was a gentle, thoughtful man, who believed in confronting the principalities and powers of his time nonviolently, with humility, grace, love and a persistence grounded in a theological acceptance of God’s “peace that passes all understanding” and in the knowledge that peace is intimately entwined with the divine call to “let justice roll down like water, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.” Bob understood that our “righteousness” before God is about seeking “right relationship” with the Divine Presence, a relationship that brings peace as we also seek justice in a broken world. His whole life was a testimony to that truth. Bob embodied the gospel in his personal, familial, communal and public life in a way that had far-reaching and profound impacts on the lives of those around him, and beyond.
The search for peace is not a “one-time” or momentary thing. Every generation must learn anew how to live lives rooted in the gospel message of the Prince of Peace. It is in a lifelong journey of discipleship that we come to know the justice and peace of God.
Practice for Peacemakers: Take five minutes today to reflect and pray on the needs for peacemaking action in your community and in the world. Take five minutes tomorrow and do the same. As you continue throughout this month-long study, consider whether prayer and ritual may help to empower you to do more in the work for justice and peace.
Prayer: Ever-present God, in our prayers and supplications, renew us for the tasks of peacemaking. Give us the strength, courage and consistency to live into the peace that passes all understanding, our whole lives through. Amen.
Psalm and Prayer of the Day September 9
Psalm 89:1-18
New International Version
Psalm 89[a]
A maskil[b] of Ethan the Ezrahite.
1 I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
through all generations.
2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant,
4 ‘I will establish your line forever
and make your throne firm through all generations.’”[c]
5 The heavens praise your wonders, Lord,
your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
6 For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?
7 In the council of the holy onesGod is greatly feared;
he is more awesome than all who surround him.
8 Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?
You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
9 You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, you still them.
10 You crushed Rahab like one of the slain;
with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.
11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
you founded the world and all that is in it.
12 You created the north and the south;
Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.
13 Your arm is endowed with power;
your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
16 They rejoice in your name all day long;
they celebrate your righteousness.
17 For you are their glory and strength,
and by your favor you exalt our horn.[d]
18 Indeed, our shield[e] belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.
Wednesday, September 9 from PC(USA) Mission Age cy, Season of Peace
Peace Within
Accepting Hope
Elder Susan B. Orr
1 Timothy 4:10
“For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the
Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”
Reflection: On Epiphany this year, I was given my first “Star Word” by a Facebook friend. The
premise is this: the magi followed the star to find baby Jesus, bringing their gifts. We too seek
Jesus, trusting that the Spirit can and does use many signs (stars) to guide us closer to God. A
“star word,” then, gives us one principle or goal to focus on throughout the year.
I was intrigued by the thought of having a guiding star word for 2020, and imagined how that
might help me to focus on an aspect of our spiritual calling. I waited with anticipation for my FB
friend to send me my word. I envisioned that the word might be kindness, joy, love, serve — you
know, good churchy words. And then my word arrived: “Acceptance.” Huh? What kind of word
is that? I was kind of grumbly about the whole thing, but I still propped that purple “Acceptance”
star right next to my computer.
As the days and months unfolded and the Covid-19 pandemic made its unwelcome appearance, my carefully planned life began to unravel with cancellations of work-related opportunities and
anticipated travel, and with separation from my loved ones. With each personal disappointment,
my eye would rest upon my star word, encouraging me to take a deep breath, exhale and accept.
As the news around the world revealed the pain and suffering caused by this new coronavirus, I
struggled to accept the unknown science that couldn’t define why, when or how we would make
it through. Yet even through the shadow of this valley of the pandemic, acts of kindness, care,
creativity and ingenuity continually shone a light on our ability to thrive as a people through
those extraordinarily difficult days.
Acceptance is not a flashy word. But sometimes, acceptance of the things we cannot change is
essential to finding a path forward and doing the healing work that we are called to do. Although
I did not want to hear it, that star word came at the right time to teach me that, although we toil
and struggle, our hope is set on the living God who is the Savior of all people. I can accept that.
2020
Practice for Peacemakers: Today, if there is a time when you are feeling overwhelmed or not in
control, take a moment to breathe in deeply, exhale, and accept. Hear these words: “You are
God’s beloved child.” Then, see if you can approach the issue with new strength and focus.
Prayer: Gracious, loving and faithful God, we are grateful for the guidance you provide us as we
live our ordinary lives. Pour your power over us. Let it wash us, renew us and enable us to
discern your will, that “thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Grant us wisdom and
courage — and, when we need it, acceptance — as we face this hour and the next. Amen.
Susan B. Orr serves as acting presbytery leader for the Presbytery of Genesee Valley and presbytery leader for the Presbytery of Geneva. She will be co-directing the Mosaic of Peace program in
Prayers for Peace and Justice September 9
Join us in the sanctuary for a time of prayer for our community and our nation. We will begin at 6:00 pm. Don’t forget to wear your mask. We will provide one for you if you do not have one.