Reformed & Always Reforming

We are finally here! Celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Well technically, it’s Tuesday, but we are celebrating it today! So what exactly does this anniversary mean to us? Well the United Church of Christ as a denomination has this to say:

“The Protestant Reformation began 500 years ago. None of us lived before it. Some of the life-threatening, flabbergasting ideas that exploded out of those years are now a part of the air we breathe. 500 years ago people died for them. But time turns the revolutionary into the everyday. We take key Reformation claims for granted. We can’t even see them, they’re just a part of who are… but the United Church of Christ’s Reformation [lifts] up some of the Reformation’s central claims. There is beauty here. And ugliness too. Inasmuch as ideas can thrill, these ideas are thrilling. Brace yourself…

The Reformation was a powerful movement of church reform and renewal — and a whole lot more. It was both cause and effect of sweeping changes in European culture and society. These changes shaped modern Europe and America and influenced the entire world. The Reformation marked the end of the medieval and feudal world and the emergence of a new world of a rising middle class, greater individual rights and freedoms, the emergence of nation-states, and a worldwide growth of commerce and trade. As with other historical movements, changes in technology were a key part of a cultural shift. In the late 15th century Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. For the first time something approximating mass production of books, including the Bible, was possible. The Reformation leader, Martin Luther, seized on the potential of the printing press by pioneering the translation of Scripture, previously in Latin, into the vernacular language of his time and place. Ordinary people and church laity, increasingly becoming literate as part of their transition from feudal economies to urban middle classes, could for the first time read and interpret the texts of Scripture for themselves. As a result, the priesthood and church power and authority centered in Rome began to lose some of its control. The Reformation was a forerunner of democratic movements, including the creation of the United States.”

On the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, we remember a time when it was radical to say that God is still speaking, that God does new things, and that the Holy Spirit may be moving among us to transform our world and our church. Today, 500 years later, this is still radical. In the eyes of God, 500 years is like a blink of an eye. God is still speaking. God is still doing new things. God is still with us, telling us through the spirit and the scripture, as we hear today, about all that God has in store for us, our church, and the world.

In today’s passage from Isaiah, the prophet is addressing the issue of fear, specifically the fear of abandonment, specifically, abandonment by God.  Israel, was in exile in Babylon. And she was afraid. Afraid that God had forgotten her. Afraid that he'd abandoned her as a people. God promises to rescue Israel. They are longing for home, and the way things were back in Israel. The good old days when they were not living as refugees in a strange land, when they were not separated from their families, where they could worship God and go to Temple. And God responds with these beautiful promises...

You are mine. I will be with you. I will give everything in exchange for you.  And in verse 4 we hear these beautiful words, “Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life.” I am your God, and you are mine. I claim you.

Then we hear God say “Do not long for the ways of old, I am about to do something new…”now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

This is a statement for Reformation if I ever heard one. A close reading of our scriptures from Genesis until Revelations, especially highlighted in Isaiah, we see how God is constantly breaking into our world to remind us that we are free. We build these rules, walls, and chains around ourselves which confine us. These relics become old so those who made them are no longer around. Our children think these confinements have always existed. They teach their children, this is the way things have always been and always will be. Over time, we forget that it was not God who put us in bondage, but ourselves. And so God breaks in, time and again, to liberate us. God breaks down our walls and dysfunctional rules, reminding us that we are free, we can change, we can grow. God has to teach us again and again to be creative and to try new things. God is the original creator. God is creative. God is not afraid of new things. God is a creator, a redeemer, and a reformer. In God’s holy spirit, in the mind of God, the body of Christ, we too learn and remember how to be brave, to be creative, to try new things, and to reform what is broken.

Let’s do a quick review:

Martin Luther’s own call for change in his 95 Theses wasn’t exactly seen as a blessing by those he was critiquing. Though Martin didn’t get his idea to write the 95 Theses from hours and hours of pouring over social media. It turns out that writing Theses and hammering them on the doors was very common in the university setting. However, there was something that happened that caused Martin to write his list...There was a priest who was well known for the selling of indulgences- and what are indulgences? Ok, well-known priest the next town over starts an indulgence selling campaign saying “I could even assault the Virgin Mary, and get pardoned by the Pope and go to Heaven.” And this priest even had a robust road show, and was very good at selling indulgences in new towns with this message. And of course where was the money going? To Rome, to the Pope.

Clearly, a priest joking about the sexual assault of Jesus’ mother was a hard line for Martin Luther. Priests committing sexual assault, and selling God’s grace in forgiveness...Mmmm, I don’t think so! ML started drafting his 95 Theses-He felt the Pope and priests were so corrupt, that things needed to change.

So on October 31, the eve of All Saints Day, 1517 he posted his 95 theses on the church door of Wittenburg Church, and the theses focused on three main points,

Point 1- An objection to spending money on indulgences

Theses 46) Christians are to be taught “Unless they have more money than they need for their own family, they are by no means to squander it on indulgences”

Point 2) A denial that the Pope has authority over purgatory

Theses 26) It is good that the Pope intercedes for souls in purgatory, but he has no authority over purgatory just because he is the pope

Point 3) A consideration for the welfare of sinners

Theses 36) Every truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt even without indulgences.

Many of his ideas came in direct reaction to what ML considered issues of justice. The poor were less likely to be able to afford bailing out their dead relatives for their sins, or if they did they were left destitute and unable to care for their families. What if you couldn’t afford indulgences?

Well, purgatory for eternity!

ML gets to writing. He wrote not only to reform the church but to teach us to write and reform the church in our own time and place. The five hundredth anniversary of the reformation invites us to pause for a moment and wonder together how God is calling us to live into greater faithfulness? What are the issues of justice we need to see in and from the Church? What is one thing that God is calling us to be faithful in this next era of the church? Break-out into groups of 3-4 and share your idea….[Break-outs/Share-backs]

I know I titled my sermon Reformed and Always Reforming, but I definitely have a better title now, “Nailed it!” Maybe it can be a sub-title, because Reformed and Always Reforming is the point of what we are doing together as people who are striving for greater faithfulness to the gospel. Historians have searched for the origin and give different views both of its origin and original intent. Most of them agree that the first use was in the 1670s by Jodocus van Lodenstein, a Reformed preacher in the Netherlands, although even he did not speak of it as an aphorism, or use the precise words we are familiar with. Various forms of the phrase were used by other Reformed men, until the full expression, most agree, came to be ecclesia reformata et semper reformanda secundus verbum Dei.That is, the church, having been reformed, must continue to be reformed according to God’s Word.  

In the spirit of the anniversary of the Reformation, may we pledge to make the next 500 years embracing these tenants, ready to transform and be transformed!

Unexpected Places

There is something about playing music in a band that is really special. Over the past couple of months, Scott Stevens and Doug Dickey and myself have been practicing weekly and sometimes twice weekly to prepare for leading worship at the Maine UCC 2015 Annual Meeting. My Maine 20/30 UCC pastors group was asked to lead worship and offer upbeat and lively music by our new Conference Minister the Rev. Deborah Blood. So of course I took this to mean offer a variety of different kinds of music, the Civil Wars, The Mama’s & the Papa’s, some Gospel, and beyond. So I enlisted, or rather, begged, Scott and Doug to join me. Turns out they really enjoy playing music together and we’re a good ensemble. Then on Friday of the conference we added my clergy colleagues, Geoff Parker and Kelli Whitman, and also the church pianist Lynne.

 The theme of the conference was “Finding GOD in Unexpected Places” and we were reminded of the disciples who found Jesus on the road to Emmaus. They didn’t recognize him at first, but the scriptures reports “their eyes were opened in the breaking of the bread.” There is something about that practice of having a meal together, where we can come to welcome each other in new ways. This happened at the conference over meals, and also as we broke bread together in communion.

The picture above is the altar that we created to symbolize finding God in Unexpected Places. I borrowed these lobster traps from my friend and lobsterman Pat White, for which I am grateful. God finds us on unexpected roads, surprising us with the beauty of unexpected friendships that grow and blossom because you’re asked to play music together, or to lead worship together, and you say yes. 

I Am Listening

The most important mentors in my life have been extraordinary listeners. These were people who often said very little, however, they gave me the space to share stories of struggle or blessing without commentary or advice, unless of course I asked their opinion. 

The past couple of months my church has challenged all parishioners with a ministry opportunity called the Kingdom Project. Everyone is given seed money to begin a project, with the goal of reaping more than what we were given. The scriptural connection is the Parable of the Talents, Matt 25.14-30.

My project was inspired by the Compassionate Listening Project, which you can look up. The idea is to offer a listening ear to total strangers on a street corner. The obvious goal is to practice listening to others, and making space in our lives to do this with folks who we don’t know. This will take a courageous bunch of folks, but I believe this is going to be a gift to all those involved. The above shirts I purchased with my own resources, Are You Listening? If you want a t-shirt, I will send you one if the shipping isn't more than a couple bucks. All I ask is that you share your experience with me in writing.

Summer Reading: Pastrix

Meeting weekly on Monday nights at Pastor Rachel’s, a small group of folks are gathering to read Pastrix by Nadia Boltz-Weber. Nadia’s take on ministry will have you laughing and crying. So far we have been moved by the way that Nadia encourages fellow Christians to make space for folks who are addicts, or recovering, or who find themselves on the belief continuum, and need a place of safety to explore without being judged. She shares her stories of failure and yet the ways God breaks into her life and cuts through her doubt, and disbelief. One particular claim that resonated with the group is “something has to die for something to live.” This is a provocative claim to make especially as we contextualize this within the framework of church life. Our churches fear change, including our own, and yet we are resurrection people. God will not betray us. I wonder who might be missing in the seats of our church if we really begin to look and ask.

The Seven Last Words: A Good Friday Meditation

Experiencing my local clergy group's Ecumenical Good Friday Service was such a meaningful worship experience. We shared the seven last words of Christ, utilizing a resource brought to our attention by a friend and colleague in the group, Sudie Blanchard, edited by her husband Peter Blanchard from the sermons written by his father the Bishop Roger Blanchard.  

I've seen the story of Jesus' last days enacted by actors, very dramatically portraying these final moments of Jesus' human life. Some that were staged as memorial services for Jesus. Sometimes Mary would drop a rose at the front of the Sanctuary, pause and return to her seat in tears. I've been to many good Good Friday Services in my last seven years in ministry, and yet this experience was unique from all the rest.

Rt. Rev. Roger Blanchard was beautifully poetic in retelling the story of our faith once again, and humanity's failure to love God as we have been loved. Each of Jesus' last words were spoken readers theatre style by the voices of clergy from different Christian traditions.

What I was struck about in this telling of the story was the return to the beginning of it all, the Creation narrative moving forward. Telling of God's action over and over again to remind humankind that we are beloved. And humanity's ignorance of God's love, and so Jesus, God incarnate, was birthed into the world, not turning away from the daunting task of living and dying, but reminding us again of God's unending LOVE.

As Maundy Thursday is a reminder of the mandate for us to LOVE, as we have been loved, for me Good Friday was filled to the brim with God's love for us creatures, us imperfect, broken people. The me that struggles to LOVE, especially those I dislike, the me that doesn't want to forgive the judgmental, the me that betrays Christ, scared for my own neck, not living authentically, and turning my back to violence when I know I should speak-up and speak truth to power. Yep. I stand convicted. This is what Good Friday is about.

Overwhelmed with my powerlessness, I give thanks for LOVE.

Preacher's Pastor

The voice on the other end was very matter-a-fact. “My wife just died, and I am wondering if we can have the service on Saturday? “ I can feel his grief. He’s not saying the words, his voice is cool and crisp, and everything in me tells me he is trying to keep himself together. I agree to meet with the family the following day, and offer something pastoral to comfort. Click. I prepare my office as I typically do, clear of my table, place my book of worship, a hymnal, a sample bulletin, and tissues. They come in handy. In walks the family-husband, daughter, son, son’s wife, and friend of the family who is also a pastor. I welcome them all, and suggest we pray, to calm folk’s anxiety. As we talk, I get a couple of stories, although I realize nobody is interested in talking directly about the deceased. That’s when they tell me they have just spent the last 24 hours recounting stories, and laughing and crying together, they are exhausted. We discuss the service, their hopes and dreams. I want folks to feel cared for. They tell me they want their pastor friend to give the homily. I can tell how much it will mean to them, so of course. I will sing the hymns, offer the prayers, read scripture, and guide the speakers. We close with prayer, and the pastor friend says, “You did well.” I think he is referencing that I didn’t insist on preaching the homily. I look at him, he was clearly their safety net, and they brought him to the meeting for a reason. He says to me, “you know they didn’t leave the church on good terms, thanks for easing their transition back.”

The next day I meet the family in the church parlor, I begin introducing myself to the family, I hear from at least six more grandchildren that they want to share, and I begin organizing the speakers. That’s when I noticed their pastor friend, standing in the corner, completely bereft. I wondered how he was standing-up. He was giving the homily about his beloved friend he had known for 50 years, that I never knew, and I, well right then and there I realized what my job was. I was the preacher’s pastor that day. I became the pastor to the preacher and to the family, a service that only I could offer at this time. I called everyone together, we prayed, and what emerged in the service was an honoring of their beloved, and wow, what a beautiful and meaningful display of love. Being a pastor sometimes means knowing when we are called to swallow our ego, and listening where we are being called, sometimes leading from behind, sometimes leading on the side, and sometimes within.