SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
TEXT: THEME: INTRODUCTION The Reign of Christ Sunday is the last Sunday in the Church Calendar’s Season of Pentecost. Next week Advent begins the four Sundays before Christmas. For the past few years, we have been observing the theme of the Reign of Christ Sunday. It seems like an odd duck, the season that bring our focus on living our ordinary lives faithfully with the Spirit comes to an end. It shifts our theological gears to prepare for the coming celebration of Christ’s birth. This year during Pentecost, we focused on passages with food and the table guest of God. Then we moved on to the Compassion of God, mostly through the books of Matthew, Genesis, Exodus, and singular readings from Deuteronomy, Joshua, and Ezekiel. There has been a progression for the People of God, from the Head of the household and family, to the expanded family that finds themselves enslaved in Egypt. To the prophet Moses who liberates them from slavery and forms them experiences in the wilderness. The Warrior Joshua leads them to recapture and inhabit abandoned lands, while Judges dispense justice over the settled lands. This will give way to Kings who reign with Prophets who keep the voice of God heard. Finally, even though captured in Babylon, the prophet Ezekiel gives a vision of God’s reigning as a shepherd. Seeing the next rule of Israel as shepherd could expand the boundaries of God’s rule beyond the Joshua, Middle East. The story of people and their relationship with God, expands, grows, and evolves. On the edge of the end of the reign of kings, the prophet Ezekiel envisions something different, beyond a patriarch, prophet, judge, and king. A shepherd is an interesting image for the Reign of Christ Sunday. SCRIPTURE At Monday night Bible study, as we read this passage, the words of the 23rd Psalm echo in this prophecy. Those echoes have become the heading for these paragraphs. Imagine the activity of a Ruler, King, Dictator, Sovereign, President, Czar, Emperor, as being that of a shepherd. A Ruler concern about the outcaste and including those who have lost their way. Giving all a way back as part of the community, the family, the people of God. From the abundant resources, a distribution giving to all what they need. There will be a richness in the community, with art, peace, creativity, music, inventiveness, and care. What would be spent on defense would be spent on improvements on the quality of life. The immigrant would we treated without fear and there would be a learning from each other and a blending in our communities. Our Ruler would not be out of touch with the people, but dwell among us. Making decision for our good. The next part, that completes this imagine of the shepherd ruler is healing. Wounds would be bound up, as well as the emotional ones and we will see what else we can create as stewards of creations and partners participating in the work of God. APPLICATION I didn’t include the last part of the passage from verse 20-24. It has to do with the judgment of the shepherd between the sheep that are fat at the expense of other sheep. Their selfishness and bulling caused the other sheep to be lean. A common theme throughout the Pentecost readings has been living out our relationship with God. Or as the Ten Commandments states it, ‘carrying the Name of the Lord’ with us. It is the People of God being the People of God, not by following a bunch of rules and judging others, but by the way we live. Which brings us to the question, ‘How do we live, as those who live under the reign of a caring shepherd?’ One way is to be who we are with God where ever we are. At Thanksgiving Dinner, I met a young adult and had her as a captive audience as I ranted on about how the church is being sent out instead of having people only come to us on Sunday mornings at 9. When she had the opportunity, she fled to sit at another table. San Francisco made a touchdown and she made her move to sit with others with the skill of a tight end. Christ has chosen to be the ruler in our lives and although we may not be the ruler of any nation, we can make changes in our marriage, with our children, with our family members, our neighborhood, in our school, at work, community, state and even our nation. By the way we act, what we vote for, who we support and by those we stand with in solidarity. Our living, with the God who has sought out the scattered, rescues those in trouble, saves us from materialism and idols, heals us from our infirmities, does not require us to be more than human, but to live into the love and grace that is found in the embrace of God. Not living to escape death, plagues, hardship, but to live through it all with God and as a help to our neighbors. Working with God and learning how to be forgiving. Protecting ourselves from hurtful situations and choosing not to harm those who have hurt us. Being happy with the accomplishments of others. Having the strength to endure suffering so we can be compassionate with those who are suffering. Living the best life that we can with God and with those around us and desiring the very best for others. CONCLUSION The reign of Christ Sunday is Sunday is an odd duck, like a cap stone rejected by the builder but capable of that holding the two sides of an arch together in the formation of a people of God. From the family of Abraham and Sarah, discovering God as they left their home to journey towards the promise of land and decedents. The head of their households build on their experiences with God as the family grows from generation to generation until they find themselves in Egypt. They are led by God through the prophet Moses through an escape from slavery and wandering in the wilderness that formed their faith and themselves as a people of God. Warriors capture and resettled long abandoned land, while later Judges arise to dispense justice. Kings then take their thrones over them. But now from another captivity and in the wilderness of Babylon the voice of the prophet speaks of the reign of a Shepherd as the Christ. The Christ will be a Prophet, a King, a Peaceful warrior, a justice bringer, recapturing hearts in every territory, and gathering the scattered sheep with a belonging, inclusion, into community like a shepherd. The capstone that bears the tension from one side of discovery and formation that continues to pushes the family of God into the direction of living our faith in God, every day, with every people, in love. The God of the ancestors becomes the Christ in flesh and blood, living among us. The Reign of Christ Sunday opens us up to a season to prepare what is coming with Advent; the incarnation.
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SCRIPTURE: Judges 4:1-7
TEXT: THEME: INTRODUCTION This year my thinking has been looking at Thanksgiving from the perspective of native peoples. The native people are ‘Akamai,’ smart, ma’a to the land, ocean, weather, hunting, fishing, farming and the seasons. They are welcoming, seeing the humanity of the stranger upon their shore, crossing into their boundaries. Native people shared what they have, taught what they knew, and help immigrants who were different from themselves. Distinctive, kind, hospitable, generous, and gracious. The immigrants were weary from their travels, hungry, unhoused, disoriented, frightened, sick, poor, adventurist, opportunist, religious, escapees from oppression, in survivor mode, or colonizer. Together we could blossom, create something blended but these are examples of the stranger taking possession of the lands of their host. In a culture that could not conceive of an audacity of any person to think that they could possess what The Creator had given to all. Then refuses these first inhabitant the right to own land, representation in courts or even the right to vote. I was thinking about the native Americans and the Hawaiians. This seems to be the biblical model of Joshua. A model that was prevalent in their day. A model that continues to persist today with boundaries defining possessions rather than responsibilities. We see this with Abraham as head of the homestead, to Joshua recapturing and re-inhabiting abandoned lands, to Judges who execute justice and later Kings who reign. Yet Contrary to this model, is Jesus the Messiah. Not conquering territory but proclaiming the nearness of the Kingdom of God, in every nation, in every country and in every principality, where those who believe find citizenship in the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is something blended together, with a future all could appreciate, be fulfilled, have joy, hold the value of our cultures, be in mission together and in relationship with God and with each other. I am not thankful because immigrants have taken over native lands and now rule. But by listening to the Prophet’s voice, all of these citizens could create a community beyond nationalism, race and lost native lands. We can find our common ground in belief in God and pursuit of justice over evil. A community that is not afraid of the new immigrants on our shores thinking that they are here to rob us of what we have, just as they did to their hosts. SCRIPTURE The pattern of our human-ness repeats itself. From thinking about God and others, to only thinking only about ourselves and using others to get what we want. Our Prejudice, selfishness, greed, insecurity, desire, and anger divides our nation and weakens our community. Divisions makes us susceptible to attack and defeat. Our manipulation, bickering and blaming creates mistrust and suspicion. This time King Jabin of Canaan conquers a weaken Israel and holds them captive them for 20 years. Having a common enemy, a common cause, a common hope for freedom and a common value unified these people around the unusual. Amongst themselves is a prophetess, whose is not identity by who she is married to, but as ‘a woman of fire.’ A woman judge of Israel. She calls her assistant Barak to rally the troops for a battle against King Jabin, telling them that the Lord had said, “I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his 900 iron chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hands.” Deborah is like a Joan of Arc. Ironically, she would not be allowed on some pulpits in our ‘modern-day’ churches because of their view of God is too small, egocentric, sexist, and racist. This common enemy was beyond, sexism, race, land, ideology, creed, foods, and people. A coming together, a fusion into strength, a movement to change the course of history, as 10,000 from the tribes of Israel respond to the call and defeat King Sisera. APPLICATION What is God calling us to do beyond our comfort, to trust in God’s designs of goodness? The promise land that Abraham and Sarah chased with their descendants, is the same place where the fighting between Israel and Hamas is now. But the promise land of Jesus is the Kingdom of God. As we understand it, it is in every kingdom, in every nation, in every rule, and in every principality. Not confined to a physical piece of real estate but to its citizens who believe in God and its people. Then Heaven, become more about where God dwells than a place where we go to after we die. We are at a turning point where the door to many of our pasts have been closed. And what was, will never be able to rise again. But we are here, with those memories, with those values, with that culture, with our belief, with our hopes and together with others, whether strangers, kamaainas, or newcomers we can fuse something together to that does not lose our distinctiveness but becomes a part of something that we all have a part in creating. Honoring the past, respecting each other with value and joy. It comes with discerning the voice of God, in faithful people. Sometimes we see the differences first, before we decide to listen. Listen first then decide if that was the voice of God or not no matter what the people look like. Then we could hear the voice of agape in aloha, the voice of shalom in namaste, the voice of compassion in suffering. The people, God is building, is way bigger than what we can think of. There is a church, compiled mostly of newcomers who have embraced the local customs, ways, ideologies, love, culture, and respect. The church has maintained their culture although multicolored. They have taught those from someplace else, to be like us, to think like us, to value the things that we hold in our hearts like us. So, no matter what color their skin maybe or where they are from, they can be a part of us. Then learn from others, discover what is wise, good, insightful and adapt it into our ways and blend the orange with the lilikoi and guava, to make the People of God. CONCLUSION I am thankful that God is not welded to the past. God moves and builds on the foundations of old into the something new. We can get stuck just trying to keep the old going and miss where God is leading today. God is leading in household, through families, speaking to us as through prophets, the Bible, worship, and prayer, to advocate for justice and join others in the struggle against evil. I am thankful for the community of the church, that we can be this together. SCRIPTURE: Joshua 34:1-3a, 14-25
TEXT: “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” THEME: Trusting in God to live as stewards of God’s blessings. INTRODUCTION When I was growing up, there was a bowl where my Dad would empty his pocket change. On Sundays when we went to Sunday School, we could take a coin and put it in our offering envelope for worship. My family provided everything I needed with even a portion that I could use for worship. I know only a few jokes but it feels like once a year I tell my Charlie Kaneyama joke on Stewardship Sunday…when Charlie was but a wee little lad, his dad gave him a dime for offering and a dime for ice cream after Sunday School. He was so happy. Walking to church like any little boy, coins do not just sit on the bottom of a pocket, so he was playing with them until one of them got away from him, rolled down the sidewalk, and into the storm drain. It was irretrievable. Poor Charlie looked up to heaven and said, “Dear God, I’m so sorry what happened to your dime.” SCRIPTURE The gods of old were used to try and make sense of the world around us. Our limited science yielded few explanations. There was so much that was a mystery, wonder, uncontrolled and powerful. So we made gods of the forces of nature around us and other gods that we could appeal to dad influence these greater forces to help us. Sometimes we gave these uncontrollable forces human like characteristics, Anthropomorphism was a way for us to understand their wild nature. But now with God’s call of Abraham and Sarah, the people of God have a relationship with the Creator of all things. They are given a promise and begin to journey together from land of Ur to Canaan, then their descendants migrate down to Egypt and back again to Canaan where they learn and relearn the dynamics of their God and being the people of God. The last few Sundays completed their 40-year travels in the wilderness with Moses, we had the So, first words of his successor Joshua as they cross the Jordan to recapture the land of Canaan and to today, where we have Joshua’s last words to the People of God as he nears life’s end. Through Joshua, God conquered the Canaanites and settled the Israelites in the land. We read the redacted version of this text, but it could be categorized as their joining the movement of believing in God; Abraham, Sarah and their family -They too. Josh and his family - Me too. The people of God - Us too. Joshua making sure you sure you sure - Them too, and all of us together being sure - We too. In essence of what they wanted from their old gods is all wrapped up into their relationship with God, who calls and reveals God’s self to those who travel with God. Then through their journey together the image and understanding of God is refined and deepen. Don’t go back to the old version of gods, they don’t work. They only are a distraction of our self-centeredness, move on with what God is showing us, with those around us, to move into the community of the people of God. This is the covenant the people of God are making with God and each other. APPLICATION As part of inclining our hearts to God is a weekly reminder of God. The Sabbath and our tithe. This past week an old friend dropped by to listen to clergy who are serving on Maui during this difficult time. He retired from his church and is now devoting himself full tine to the ministry of Hawaiian Islands Ministry and wanted to listen to what the needs are here for clergy, to see if there was something Hawaiian Island Ministries could do to help, us especially in the area of mental health. At the end of his visit with us he gave me a HIM pen and said use it when you journal. Inadvertently what this did, was reminds me of Dan every time I update my calendar. Sneaky Dan. But this is what a tithe does for us. A weekly offering, even if just going through the motions, has us look at our check book balance, see how God has provided, what we need, and then a portion to worship God with this week. Don’t get caught up on the amount. We already have God’s favor and are not trying to pay for it. It is the heart behind the offering and worship that is important. So we provide pledge cards for you to fill out. But we don’t use them to figure out the church budget. They are for you to do your own accounting of your blessings and worship. This is kind of what Joshua is doing here, he is taking in account of all that God has done, from the time of Abraham to the end of Joshua’s life. Looking towards where they are now, making his commitment and seeing if there are others who are committed to do the same into the future. We can’t do the work of God on our own, to do this we need each other. So there is a commitment of self, to each other and to God. The offerings we have contribute to the work we do together, putting our old gods behind and journeying with God into the not yet. CONCLUSION When we are able to see, what we have as a product of how God loves us, then we can also trust God for a portion, out of everything to give as an act of worship. Like a pen, that we journal with that reminds us to pray. Just for fun. These are a few old gods we can put behind us. I have walked in Keopulani Park and have numerous black cats cross my path that have not determined how good or bad my day has gone. Black cats don’t have the power to make a bad day, that is all up to me. Same thing with Fridays, They are my days off so always good so it doesn’t matter when it falls on the 13th day of the month. I haven’t tried this, but I am don’t see what power a banana has that would cause fish not to bite on a particular day. Look at it. The only power it has is potassium. I don’t know what it is about washing my car or doing laundry that brings rain. Pennies don’t bring good luck, all it does is make me a penny richer, which is good. But at my age sometimes I have to consider if it is worth bending down to pick it up. Avoiding cracks makes me walk funny but hasn’t done anything for my mother’s back. It has helped me be aware of floor level changes and find the occasional penny. Our lives are not about avoiding bad luck, but it is about living into the grace and loving ways of God with our neighbors. Putting those old gods behind, there is nothing casual about living as witnesses of God’s liberation and justice. It is a daily commitment, putting aside our confidences of the past for our confidences in God, with a readiness to respond, trusting in the assurances of God, knowing God journeys with us now and in the generations to come. SCRIPTURE: Joshua 3
TEXT: THEME: INTRODUCTION The lectionary readings through Genesis, Exodus and Deuteronomy highlighted the Compassion of God for the family of Abraham and Sarah. Even before they were slave to Egypt, God initiated plans of love and compassion. Moses’ birth, adoption, and success in negotiating the release of God’s people, showed how powerful God is, in comparison to the rulers of Earth. God sees and knows of Israel’s suffering and initiates their liberation from oppression. They were spiritual but not religious, like those ‘nones’ of today. In 2021 the Pew Research Center identified a drop of those in the United States who identified themselves as Christian. Roughly 3 in ten adults considered themselves as ‘religiously unaffiliated’ and fewer than half of Americans pray every day, ‘Nones’ were turned off by the behavior of abuse in the church, churches that only ask for money and organized religion. Initiating their escape from slavery, and wandering for 40 years in the wilderness fostered Israel’s relationship with God. Israel has reconnected with their ancestral heritage, experienced their own stories with God, that has informed them about who they are, who God is and how they are to treat their neighbors. SCRIPTURE Moses died and Joshua is the new leader. He is not a negotiator like Moses, but was a military strategist and warrior. The style of the mission will change and be shaped by the capability and skill set of the new leader that is available. We each bring our own set of skills, talent, abilities and interest, to the God’s call of us. In each mission we participate in, we leave an imprint of who we are. It maybe that to God, participation in a mission is important, but it does not need to be done in the exact same way. Joshua has been shadowing Moses, but his talent, skill and leadership is different from Moses. If anything, this means that we don’t all need to be the same to participate in God’s mission, and that there are parts of mission that God will require different kind of skills from one season to another. We need to appreciate all and welcome all. The promise we have from God is “I will be with you …” so through us, we will be able to see God’s handiwork. For example, in the crossing of the Jordan River to get to the Promised land, they cross on dry ground but it is not a sea, but a river and the water flowing in one direction is dammed (not parted) causing it to overflow onto the banks while the people crossed on dry ground. Similar to the crossing of the Red Sea but different, under the leadership of Joshua, it is enough to prove that our same God is with Joshua. APPLICATION On this All-Saint’s Sunday we recognize the contributions of many among us who in their own way and style added their handiwork to the life of this church or who have left their mark on our lives. Here is illustrated in a Maui New article of the church in 1912. Saints are named in this article: The first building of the Wailuku Union Church was erected in the early part of 1867. Mr. Christopher H. Lewers, Mr. Edward H. Bailey and several others then living in Wailuku were interested in its erection, and assisted in the work. “The Friend” of a somewhat earlier date speaks of the work of the ladies of Wailuku in raising nearly $400 toward the new building. Rev. Thomas Gardner Thurston, was the first pastor of this Church. He was ordained in the Kaahumanu Church, and ministered to both English-speaking and Hawaiian congregations, beginning his work in the month of October, 1866 The Wailuku Union Church was organized, January 15th, 1867. Rev. W. P. Alexander was moderator of that council, Rev. S. E. Bishop, D. D., was the scribe. The papers of incorporation were issued the year before, on October 10th. on April 4th, 1880, Mr. Edward H. Bailey united with the Church; that from that date to the time of his death, on November 5th, 1910, he faithfully served the Church in many ways, and for a time was the only living member of the organization; on the first Sunday in November, 1905, the house of worship was opened after it has been closed for several years, and that at the request of many of the former attendants of the Church, Rev. Rowland B. Dodge, the Agent for the Hawaiian Board, for Maui County, was engaged to hold service. In December, 1910, the property of the Church was condemned by the County; land and buildings were appropriated for Government use. The work on the new edifice began in February, 1911. The Corner Stone was laid with fitting ceremonies on May 7th, 1911. The address on the occasion was delivered by Hon. Selden B. Kingsbury. The floor plan was first worked out by the Minister of the Church, and the result of the careful work of Mr. W. R. Patterson, who, from the very day the Board of Trustees of the Church accepted his liberal offer has put his whole heart into the work of the erection of a suitable building for the worship of the Church and congregation of which he has been a member since July 1st, 1911. The firm of Emory & Webb, of Honolulu, very generously reviewed the plans. Mr. Hugh Howell acted as consulting engineer, and has done faithful and efficient service. The furniture was selected by the Minister while in New York last winter. It was purchased through the firm of Alexander & Baldwin. Mr. R. E. Smith, the New York buyer, chose the color scheme for the windows assisting the maker, Mr. Charles E. Hogeman, in the selection of the designs. The stone for the Church was found on the fields of the Wailuku Sugar Company and in the Iao Valley. The cross was cut by Japanese workman out of a single stone from the land of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Field in Iao. The asbestos shingles and ohia flooring were furnished by the firm of Lewers & Cooke; other materials by the Kahului Railroad Company. The many gifts to the Church from loving friends, the memorials make the building in every sense a true monument to the work of the early missionaries, their sons and daughters, and those who in noble lives. We join our names to this list of faithful saints who serve God through the ministry of this church. CONCLUSION “None’s” say they don’t go to church because the ones they have gone to are unpersuasive and unwelcoming towards their lifestyle. The church was not a ‘good fit’ for them. When we start to list the names of the Saints of this church, past as well as present, they are persuasive in the way they live their faith. And they are welcoming in the way they embraced us, reaching out to take our hand. A church that is a good fit is hard to find. But it is our Saints that make us a ‘good fit’ for just about anyone. God’s compassion continues through us. |
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April 2024
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