Even the Winds and the Sea Obey

Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. A scribe then approached and said, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ Another of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.’ And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A gale arose on the lake, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We are perishing!’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you of little faith?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?’ Matthew 8:18-27

The ocean is a part of my being. I love it in all seasons and all weather. I also respect the power of those waters. Several times in my life I have been caught in a boat when a storm rolled in. The sky darkens quickly, the winds howl and lightening can be seen in the distance. This is the moment when everyone leans in, lends a hand and works to bring the boat into the safer harbor. It is terrifying, trying to outrun a storm, even for the most seasoned sailors and fisherfolk. Prayers are screamed to the winds, and the toughest cry out loud for God to save them.

Gracious Creator, source of all life

we are caught in many storms today

violence and cruelty surround us

the winds of hate are whipped up 

and we are straining to reach safe harbor.

Help us to know you in this small boat

help us to rely on you in our worst moments

give us the faith to know you are in charge

despite the terrors and pains that surrounds us. Amen.

Memorial Day 2022

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.” And he said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.” And the servant was healed in that hour. When Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever; he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him. That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” Matthew 8:5-17

I grew up a child of a Navy chaplain, and was born while my Dad was serving stateside after returning from Korea. We spent several seasons on Camp LeJeune during the height of the Vietnam war. Veterans and service personnel are always thinking of those who didn't make it home, of their comrades who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Today we honor those who served and did not come home. No matter our political leaning, no matter how we think or believe, we can give thanks for those who lived and died for others.

Wondrous Creator, you made us in your image

yet we humans are flawed images of your perfection

we take up sides and divide against others

and we send our children into harm's way.

Help us to honor those who have sacrificed

by living as servants of all of humanity

as those who seek peace and reconciliation

and those who bear the sorrows of our world. Amen.

Seventh Sunday of Easter

              

 The Seventh Sunday of Easter May 29, 2022

The Collect 

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. 

The First Lesson Acts 16:16-34 

With Paul and Silas, we came to Philippi in Macedonia, a Roman colony, and, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe." The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God. 

Psalm 97

1 The LORD is King; 

let the earth rejoice; * 

let the multitude of the isles be glad. 

2 Clouds and darkness 

are round about him, * 

righteousness and justice 

are the foundations of his throne. 

3 A fire goes before him * 

and burns up his enemies on every side. 

4 His lightnings light up the world; * 

the earth sees it and is afraid. 

5 The mountains melt like wax 

at the presence of the LORD, * 

at the presence of the 

Lord of the whole earth. 

6 The heavens declare his righteousness, * 

and all the peoples see his glory. 

7 Confounded be all who worship 

carved images and delight in false gods! * 

Bow down before him, all you gods. 

8 Zion hears and is glad, 

and the cities of Judah rejoice, * 

because of your judgments, O LORD. 

9 For you are the LORD, 

most high over all the earth; * 

you are exalted far above all gods. 

10 The LORD loves those who hate evil; * 

he preserves the lives of his saints 

and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 

11 Light has sprung up for the righteous, * 

and joyful gladness for those who are truehearted. 

12 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, * 

and give thanks to his holy Name. 

The Epistle Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21 

At the end of the visions I, John, heard these words: "See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. "It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let everyone who hears say, "Come." And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

The Gospel John 17:20-26

Jesus prayed for his disciples, and then he said. "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. "Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

We are often in the prayers of others when we don't even know it, and sometimes, it surprises us. We think our need is hidden, yet God finds those to pray for us even when we can't pray anymore.. When I was a child of 12 I had to have surgery and was in the hospital for quite some time. I awoke one afternoon from slumbering and thought I saw St. Peter. A man robed in white, carrying a staff, leaned by my bed. This little Presbyterian girl thought I was dead. It was not the case, of course but was instead,  the cardinal of New York, a friend of my Dad's, who had said mass in the chapel and came to pray with me. I was stunned in silence and only nodded when he asked if he could pray for me. Jesus prayed for the disciples and for the world. We need that prayer now. We need to pray for one another without ceasing.

Loving Creator, who knows our needs

the world is weeping from the violence

fearful for all the dangers around us

and we are full of distrust and fear.

Savior, teach us to pray for the world today.

You did not fear the cross of the grave

yet your disciples fled and hid away

and we tend to run and hide these days

when the troubles of the world overwhelm us.

Savior, teach us to pray for the world today.

Turn our fearful hearts the needs of others

make us strong to speak up for the weary

give us your heart so that we might act

and may our prayers be more than wishes alone.

Savior, teach us to pray for the world today.

Give us hands to help and voices to sing

let the world know your love is here to stay.

 Savior, teach us to pray for the world today.

Make our every action a prayer for healing

let us give your love away freely today.

Savior, teach us to pray for the world today. Amen.

Founded on the Rock

On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?” Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.” ‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!’ Matthew 7:22-27

I spent my childhood summers, making sandcastles with pails of hardpacked wet sand, decorated with dripped sand. A generation later, on the same beach, my daughters built sandcastles, and after them, our grandchildren. We dug moats to send water away from our castles, but the water always won. And those that weren't defeated by water, were stepped on by other children playing at being cruel giants. We learned early that sand always gives way and perfection cannot be kept. Love abides, as hard as rock and solid as the unmovable stone jetties that reached out in the ocean to hold in the sand.

Tender Creator, we live among shifting sands

the storms and violence of life overwhelm us

but you have promised to be our rock and stay

you keep us safe in every tumult that arises.

Help us to build our lives on your love

step by step, teach us to be anchored in you

day by day, let us strengthen our faith in prayer

so the world can be renewed by your constant love. Amen.

Ascension Day

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ Matthew 28:16-20

Today, we celebrate the feast of the Ascension, the day when Jesus left his disciples on the earth and ascended into heaven. Some of the disciples, like up were terrified by being left alone, as we are. Jesus gave them instruction and direction, yet they were grieved, broken and seemingly unable to believe that their friend and teacher would be with them always. We all experienced radical isolation during the pandemic. We felt alone and abandoned. Yet the words Jesus left then, are the words for us today.

Loving Creator, we begin and end with you

our hope is in your presence with us here

our faith is rooted in your promise of love

and your instruction for our lives.

Draw close to us as we mourn again

as a nation, for our children, for the world.

Help us to bring your love everywhere go

so our waiting might bring a new Pentecost for all. Amen.

Relationship

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: “What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”‘? If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions .Matthew 22:41-46

After my oldest child was born and began going to nursery school, I learned an amazing thing about my identity. I was no loner Carol, but Emily's mother. And it was so with my other two daughter's as well. I was Ariel's mom, or Phoebe's mom, not myself alone. It never upset me, rather it has reminded me that our Cherokee people always tell us to consider who we are responsible for. We are all identified in relationship to others. We are all from another's body, all of us dependent on our families and communities. We are all dependent on our Creator.

Loving Creator, you make us in your image

you put your heart within each of us

you give us your insight and compassion

your love surrounds us and moves us forward.

Help us to live into our relations and responsibilities

and the gifts you have given us for the world's care.

Make us your people identified as yours alone. Amen.

Bearing Fruit

Jesus said, “Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” Matthew 13:18-23

Many early summer morning, when I was a child, I would sneak out early and help my Grandfather WalkingStick pick strawberries, eating as many as I picked. We would have a big bowlful and I always hoped I could just sit down and eat them. Almost immediately, my grandmother would call down to me in a strict voice from her kitchen, " Carol Joy, you bring those up here right now!" I would carry them up to her, and smiling, she would wash them, pour cream and sugar on them, and we all would feast together. Those first summer fruits were the best. God blesses us with much fruit when we are willing to do the hard work of planting and sowing. Oh, it is so easy to give up and let others do the work, yet the sweetest blessings come when we have listened and worked in God's garden.

Gracious Creator, source of abundance

day by day you bless us with life

we taste the sweet fruits you give us

and we often forget to give you thanks.

Help us to be hearers and doers of your word

help us to work in the hot sun and deep cold

knowing your plenty is sweet and constant

and we will be sweetly blessed as we work

and love the stranger and the neighbor in your name. Amen

Rogation Day

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!” Then the disciples came and asked Jesus, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” He answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. The reason I speak to them in parables is that ‘seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.’ With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: ‘You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn— and I would heal them.’ “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.” Matthew 13:1-16

The days before Ascension day are rogation days - times to pray for an abundant harvest. In ancient times the priest would walk the edges of fields and bless them. Not too many of us live in places where we could walk the whole field, yet we can still pray for the abundant harvest. I have only small raised beds and flower pots, and yet, I find myself praying for the seeds and plants, asking for protection against varmints, bugs, and my lack of gardening skills. My Cherokee mother, and her father, were both magnificent gardeners, blessed with green thumbs and know how. Me, not so much.

Creator of abundance and all that is good

we pray for the farmers and those who plant

and for those who tend, water and wait

and those who try to make gardens flourish.

Your beauty surrounds us, your abundance everywhere

yet we would not hear the stories you told

nor listen with hearts of compassions and understanding.

Give us eyes to see and ear to hear today

and let us be witnesses to your sacred abundance. Amen.

Ask

Jesus said, “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye. “Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you. “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:1-12

When folks have concerns about others, they often say they will pray for them. Yet often, they forget. And each of us, often forgets to ask the Creator for our needs, being thankful in return. We want to push through, to do it on our own, to be strong and independent. But we are not independent, and never were. We are dependent on God for every breath as well as every good gift. Let us remember we are made by a Creator who is the source of love and goodness. Let us ask freely, as a child might, so we might truly know the love that surrounds us.

Loving God, Creator of all

let us be ready to seek you

morning by morning

and as we lie down to sleep.

May prayers be on our lips

asking for the world's healing

asking for our neighbors

and asking for ourselves as well.

May our prayers be a sign 

of your love for us and promise

to be present in every breath we take. Amen.

Consider the Lilies

Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:25-34 (NRSV)

We had lilies in our yard by the ocean. They were often dappled in water drops, from dew or from the night's rain. As a small child, I loved getting up early and brushing, ever so slightly, against them. Walking in their beauty and feeling the waterdrops shake onto me, I felt holy and magical, as only a little child can, before the fear and worries of the world overwhelm us. God invites us today to see the witness of the Creator's magnificent creation, in all her beauty. May we understand life, as small children again, with all the wonder and curiosity given.  May we trust God and let go of the worries for just today.

Loving Creator, your beauty is all around

yet our heads are buried in our worries

we ache for the future and out stability

yet you have given us every blessing.

In this world where violence and bigotry prevail

let us be those who speak to the brokenness

with your love and act with your passion for this beautiful world. Amen.

Moth and Rust

Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Matthew 6:19-24

This morning I spent time spraying WD-40 on rusted locks and other things that should move but have stopped. Rust, mold mildew, moths are a perennial problem. We often worry and fuss about our possessions. We worry that people will judge us harshly if we don't have the very best and look our very best. And yet, Jesus invites us today to put time into the treasures of our heart. The love we have been given in community and family. And in the sacrificial love we have been given in Jesus. Our true treasure!

Gracious Creator, the world awakes with beauty

and we delighting in the return of spring's beauty

often try to control it and claim it as our own.

You give us treasures, moment by moment.      

Your love surrounds us and restores us

yet we claim your gifts as our accomplishments.

Help us to not worry about life's possessions

instead let us focus love and love alone.

Let our life's be beacons of hope and joy

in a world that loves only commodity and wealth. Amen.               

The Lord's Prayer

Jesus said, “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “Pray then in this way: 

 Our Father in heaven,

 hallowed be your name. 

Your kingdom come. 

Your will be done, 

on earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread. 

And forgive us our debts, 

as we also have forgiven our debtors. 

And do not bring us 

to the time of trial, 

but rescue us from the evil one. 

 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:7-15

As a child growing up in the Presbyterian Church, we learned the Lord's Prayer with debts and debtors rather than trespass and trespasses. One child in Sunday School heard the debt as dent and so prayed, "dents and dentures." The beloved sung setting of the lord's Prayer uses debts and debtors. And yet, whatever language we use, or however we have learned to pray, our Creator simply asks for our humility and our simplicity.  We are debtors and dented, trespassers and foolish, and we are loved by our Creator despite it all.

Creator God, who hears your children

help us to bring our broken selves

the shambles and dents of our lives 

before you today and always.

To others we can dress ourselves up

and stand on our accomplishments

yet to you we are simply children

messy and confused and beloved.

Take our simply prayers today

we pray for an end to violence

in the world and in ourselves.

We pray for the grieving, the lonely

the frustrated and the hurting

that your love might be the balm

that the whole world needs now. Amen

Prayer

Jesus said, “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 

Loving Creator, you teach us to pray

as the early day begins, as sun sets

in the darkness of our own rooms

and in the deep shadows of tall trees.

We are people who like to show off,

yet you told us to not brag or gloat

but to make our most private places

your sanctuaries of you divine presence.

Let us shine light on your wondrous love

as we let our all of ourselves be yours

our brokenness and shame yours to transform. Amen.