05 Pie Jesu

Musical selection of the week - Pie Jesu - ..................................................................................................

04 Deja Vu 060307

We may well have to be told something three times before we
really hear it -

There is a great deal of DEJA VU in our topic today. Each
week it seems Jesus is telling the disciples he must leave them and
that a Helper in the Person of the Holy Spirit will be there to guide
them. It is all part of a lengthy farewell discourse.
Jesus has to be lengthy and repetitive for the fact is, we don't
listen. We may well have to be told something three times before we
really hear it. That's why in putting the Sunday service together each
week, we deliberately practice reinforced learning - making sure
that, in so far as possible, the hymns, the anthem and the solos carry
the same theme as the Scripture.
Even in sermons we are taught to "tell em you're gonna tell
em" - "tell em!" and then "tell em you told 'em!"
So today, when Jesus tells us in John 16:12-15 that the Holy
Spirit will be around us to help us, we know we've heard that - it's
DEJA VU all over again!
His promise is that the Holy Spirit will give us guidance -
someone to stand beside us - a "paraclete" as the term is in Greek
- someone who will stand beside a defendant in a courtroom and
interpret the legal proceedings with which the average person is not
familiar.
The wonderful Gift that Jesus has given us in the Holy Spirit is a
guide for life's proceedings which we do not understand.
This is not only Communion Sunday but it is also Trinity Sunday
when we gratefully acknowledge that God reveals himself to us as our
Heavenly Father, through what Jesus taught us while on earth, and
through the Holy Spirit - who will share the truth of Jesus with us - AS WE
CAN ACCEPT IT.
It is fascinating that Jesus understood that in those years there
were some things that would be too much for them to understand and
accept. He said, "I have so much more to tell you, but it is too
much for you to accept now"
The people of the time of Jesus were in a world where women were the
property of their husbands and slaves the property of their masters. To
have come out as an advocate for women's rights and civil rights at that
time would have been disastrous for all concerned, so he arranged to
keep the channels of communication open through the Holy Spirit, so
that we can be taught new ways of thinking and understanding.
Understand that this will mean that there may be a discrepancy
between the Scripture of that time and the understandings of our time.
Jesus, remember, said "It HAS been said unto you......thus and
so.......but I say unto you x and y and z - something different -
more enlightened - more Godlike!"
We NEED a "paraclete" to stand beside us and guide us
"through the night with the light from above!"
First, PEACE and REMEMBRANCE are promised to us.
Jesus instituted a new ritual, before he returned to the heavenly
regions. Using the common place elements of bread and wine,
He set up a custom that would be repeated over and over again
across the centuries, even as we repeat it today and WE
REMEMBER HIM - it is as if He is here at our communion table -
which extends out - in and out among all the pews - leaving
the church and stretching around the entire world as His
people remember Him.
And we feel His Peace come upon us - not a temporary
Peace, but a permanent one that even death cannot take
from us - in fact, death takes us further into it.
You may remember that when ABC World News Tonight
anchor Bob Woodruff was reporting from Iraq, he was severely
wounded when a roadside IED drove shrapnel into his head.
"People ask me" he said, "what I remember of the explosion.
Very little...... We were coming to a stand of trees where
insurgents were waiting. They say you never hear the bomb
that hits you, and I didn't. But I recall something even more
profound. I found myself enveloped by a pure white light. It
was peaceful. My body fell back into the tank, but I floated
above it in a place were there was no pain. I don't think I even
knew I'd been hit. The white light felt so good, like soft
welcoming arms. Then it disappeared and I was awake on
the floor of the tank....but it's the memory of the white light
that's clearest. I saw what I think must've been heaven. I can
still feel its peacefulness. Because of it, I have no fear of
death now. Of course, I'd hate to leave my family, but I'm
comforted by the thought of what will come next. (Bob
Woodruff)
The Holy Spirit brings us calm in the midst of chaos, peace
and contentment no matter what we are going through. We are
promised not the contentment that comes when nothing bad is
happening to us, but the peace and contentment that comes no
matter what we're going through - even as the Apostle, Paul said:
"I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be
content.!" - that's the King James translation - our pew Bible has
"I have learned to be satisfied with what I have and with
whatever happens. I know how to live when I am poor and
when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of how to live
through any kind of situation - when I have enough to eat or
when I am hungry, when I have everything I need or when I
have nothing. Christ is the one who gives me the strength
I need to do whatever I must do." Philippians 1:11-14.
The Spirit teaches us a wonderful truth in that. You could
put it this way: Stop telling God how big your storm is:
instead, tell the storm how big your God is!
The Spirit's role is further described as that of a guide in
the knowledge of truth about Jesus. The Holy Spirit has
already guided you to a special understanding about Jesus.
That's why you're here. And that's why you're here on Communion
Sunday, because you want to COMMUNE with the Spirit of
Jesus as you will during the ritual that He has designed for us that
flows from Bible times to our time.
Intuitively, within yourself, with no one having to teach you,
you know that Jesus is special. Just to enter the church and see
the outstretch arms of Jesus before you is a special experience.
I remember my first time. I'm sure you remember yours.
One of our members, now gone on to heaven, who had
three muses - one in Russian, one in French and one in English
wrote these words when she entered the church and saw for the
first time - the stained glass window and the image of the Christ
with his welcoming, outstretched hands: "I think of Thy
perfection, meek in might here in the quiet church on
Lincoln Road. Through consecrated glass the sunrays
light Thy face and tunic, This is Thy abode. Thy welcome
gesture - loving, outstretched hands invite me here, and I
am fortified In love. My humbled spirit understands that I
must follow Thee, our Holy Guide."
Here in this place, instructed by the Holy Spirit, we know
that Jesus is special - not just a son of God (as we are sons and
daughters of God) but the natural Son - born of God - a Divine
Being - who in earthly form taught us more about God than
anyone ever had or ever will.
His coming to the earth resulted in His coming to us –
entering us - living in us - giving us unearthly - heavenly - PEACE
- teaching us, through the Holy Spirit is Truth for now and forever.
We remember His Kindness, His Sacrifice, His Love - we
hold Him in Kindly Remembrance at this TABLE OF
REMEMBRANCE.
A doctor's daughter named Hope, promised her elderly
father that upon his death, she would burn all the outstanding bills
of all his patients. "Then," he said, "No one will owe me
anything except, I hope, a kindly remembrance."
She did as she was asked. Weeks later, after the news
of her father's death had reached the newspaper, his ninety year
old widow received a letter: Dear Mrs. Bounton, It was a
pleasure to see your picture in our local newspaper and to
read of the doctor's and your lives over the many years you
have lived in our community. And congratulations on
reaching your ninetieth birthday.
In 1925 our daughter's foot was seriously injured.
Your husband, who was our family physician, took care of
it and it healed beautifully. At that time we were having
much financial difficulty and $7.50. of the good doctor's bill
was never paid. This has always bothered me because that
was not the way we did things. Please find a check
enclosed to cover that amount. And thank you for the
doctor's kindness and patience. May God bestow His
choicest blessings on you and your loved one."
Hope reflected that out of all the debts owed him, the caring
doctor got what he really wanted - a kindly remembrance.
As KINDLY REMEMBRANCES of all that Jesus has done
for us, - living for us - dying for us -and giving us the daily Guidance
of the holy spirit, let us come to this table as LIVING KINDLY
REMEMBRANCES
AT THIS TABLE OF REMEMBRANCE.

Communion Meditation Notes
(Not edited nor proofed)
The Rev. Dr. Garth R. Thompson Pastor, M.B. Community

A sermon (or meditation) is a simple truth told by someone who
believes it to people he knows and loves (Phillips Brooks)
June 3, 2007 10:30 a, m.
"Deja Vu!"
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts
be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

03 Guess Who I Saw 052707

Pentecost Sunday - Did you ever have a word pop out at you from a sentence that
causes you to ask - "What does that word REALLY mean?" I had
that happen as I was preparing for this Pentecost sermon - commemorating
the day when the Holy Spirit came in a very dramatic way upon some
seventy disciples who were gathered together in one place - tongues of
fire appeared over their heads - a mighty wind was heard - more
importantly they knew without a shadow of a doubt that God was Present.
The Holy Spirit settled around their shoulders like a mantle that would
encase them forever.
In my preparation, I was, of course caught up in the Gospel of
John who has the highest Christology of any of the Gospels, that is, he
puts Jesus on a higher level - knowing him as God's son - not as you and
I are sons and daughters of God, but born of God - His Natural Son - we
may be a lot like him but not the same - even as our loved ones who pass
on before us watch over us in angelic way but are not angels per se.
There are angels and archangels - all kinds of beings - Jesus is a special
being - He is a Divine Being - "the only begotten son of God" - it was the
word, "begotten" that intrigued me - I had never really thought about it.
The dictionary didn't even have it, so I googled it. (I google at
least once each day - it's SO much fun!) It comes from the Greek
menogenes a compound word - mono - meaning only and genesis
meaning birth. Jesus is the only Son of God by nature. He is one of a
kind.
Jesus, being of the same essential nature as God could reveal
God as non other could do.
According to John, Jesus was the Expression of God - the logos
- the WORD of God. Remember how he said, "In the beginning was
the WORD, and the WORD was with God and the WORD was
God and without Him was not anything made that was made.
We have such a vested interest in this because it means that when
we see Jesus, we wee God! If I show you Jesus today, you can go out
from this place and say, GUESS WHO I SAW? And when they ask,
you can say, "I saw God."
Philip asked for clarity as to who Jesus was and he got it! That
reminds me of the homeowner who wrote to Acme Plumbing Company
inquiring about the use of hydrochloric acid in cleaning out pipes in his
house. The plumbing company replied, "Dear Sir: After due
consideration, we are pleased to advise you that the use of this
substance particularly over a sustained period of time could be
extremely disastrous to the integrity of your plumbing system!"
The homeowner wrote back: "Thank you for your kind reply.
I am pleased to hear that I may use hydrochloric acid without bad
effect." The plumbing company replied, "Dear Sir: Please allow us
to explain that we are concerned about what the use of the proposed
substance upon your plumbing system could be, and indeed may
have already been, detrimental to the efficient functioning of this
system. Sincerely, Acme Plumbing."
The homeowner replied, "Dear Acme Plumbing: Like I say,
thank you for your reply. I've poured a bottle of this stuff down the
drain and it works great! Sincerely......"
Finally the company wrote in capital letters, "DON'T USE
HYDROCHLORIC ACID. BURNS THE HELL OUT OF THE
PIPES!
(Clarity. At last we got some clarity - about pipes and about the
nature of Jesus.)
Of course, it is not enough for us to academically know the true
nature of Jesus. We need to get to know him. There is nothing like living
with someone to really get to know them. I wish that young couples had
what they had in Bible times - a society-blessed time in which they could
live together before the final step of marriage. It was called betrothal in
which each of them and their families saw the other as their "intended."
It was more than engagement and less than marriage. It was such a serious
step that if you decided not to go ahead with it you had to get a to break the
betrothal - you had to divorce the other person. - even as Joseph
considered divorcing Mary quietly and privately when he learned she was
expecting a child, not his. Only an angel could have convinced him
otherwise - and so one did!
(There are lots of interesting matings in the Bible as a matter of
fact. In Genesis it is reported that the Sons of Gods dwelt with the
daughters of men - and that from these unions the nephilim - the men of
great renown were born. That's in the 6th chapter of Genesis: "And it
came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth,
and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the
daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of
all which they chose......There were giants in the earth in those
days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the
daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became
mighty men which were of old, men of renown." (Genesis 6: 1-2, 4)
The Bible is a fascinating book, and the New Testament that
contains the life and teachings of Jesus is invaluable in making it possible
for you to live with Jesus.
Like the followers of Jesus, you can get "all fired up" on this day
of Pentecost - vowing to worship better and more often - learning to lean
upon the Holy Spirit to tell you what to say in witnessing about your faith
to others - making praying the first thing you do in the morning and the last
thing you do at night - and "praying without ceasing in between." - looking
to see what those around you need help with - and helping without being
asked - be creative and intuitive in your caring and your sharing - in short,
to see your main task in life as doing everything possible live in
Jesus and to let Jesus live within you - the WORD, the logos, the
Expression of God, THE SON OF GOD.
I open my mouth to speak
And the word is there
Formed by the lips, the tongue
The organ of voice. Formed by
The brain, transmitting the word by breath.
I open my mouth to speak
And the word is there
Traveling between us - caught
By the organ of hearing, the ear,
Transmitting the thought to the brain
Through the word.
Just so do we communicate -
You and I: the thought
From one mind leaping to another,
Given shape and form and substance,
So that we know and are known through the word.
But let me speak to my very small son
And the words mean nothing,
For he does not know my language.
And so I must show him.
"This is your foot"
I say, "And it is meant for walking."
I help him up: "Here is the way to walk!"
And one day "walking" shapes in his brain with the word.
God had something to say to Man,
But the words meant nothing,
For we did not know his language
And so we were shown: "Behold the Man,"
He said, "this is the image, the thought
In my mind - Man as I mean him, loving and serving.
I have put Him in flesh. Now the Word
Has shape and form and substance
To travel between us. Let Him show forth love
Till one day "loving" shapes in your brain with THE WORD.
(The Word, For Heaven's Sake)
The WORD of God, the CHRIST OF GOD - the ANOINTED
ONE is with us always - living, working, calling, healing, protecting -
HE'S NOT A PAST-TENSE PERSON BUT A PRESENT PRESENCE!
A young man who had been raised as an atheist was training to be
an Olympic diver. The only religious influence in his life came from his
outspoken Christian friend.
The young diver never really paid much attention to his friend's
witnessing words, even though he heard them often. One night he went to
the indoor pool at the college he attended. The lights were all off, but as
the pool had big skylights and the moon was bright, there was plenty of
light to practice by.
The young man climbed up to the highest diving board, turn his
back to the pool at the end of the diving board and prepared to dive. He
extended his arms out, and in the shadowy light conditions, saw the cross
that his extended arms formed as he saw his shadow on the wall. It
brought back to him his friend's words about Jesus. He felt as if Jesus
were speaking to him, and he was so overcome that he knelt down, right
there on the diving board and asked the living Jesus to come into his life.
As he stood to go back to the dive, a maintenance man came in
and turned on the lights - revealing that the pool had been drained. Had
he dived, had he not seen the cross - had he not responded to that feeling
within Himself that Jesus was speaking to him, his life would have been
different - it would have ended that very night. Instead, his new life as a
follower of THE WORD had begun. Now he had a story to tell and it
began with the words: GUESS WHO I SAW?


Sermon Notes
(Not edited nor proofed)
The Rev. Dr. Garth R. Thompson Pastor, M.B. Community Church
A sermon is a simple truth told by someone who
believes it to people he knows and loves (Phillips Brooks)
May 27, 2007 10:30 a, m. John 14:8-27
PENTECOST SUNDAY
"GUESS WHO I SAW!"
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts
be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.