Why Do You Come to Church?

 

This week we focus on Frank, the synagogue leader, and his response to Jesus’ visit to his synagogue.  

Luke 13. 10-17 (NIVUK)

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.  When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’ Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, ‘There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.’

The Lord answered him, ‘You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?  Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?’

When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

From Rev. Donna:

Frank’s focus was on the law whose interpretation was clear and plain to him.

Keeping the Sabbath holy meant that no work should be done. 

No work.

I was raised with that interpretation as well, with some additions.

No TV.  

No playing games. 

The Sabbath was to be different.  This is God’s will.

Let’s consider Ruth Haley Barton’s words as we prepare for worship this week.

What is your response to her focus?

For many of us, though, knowledge of God’s will is a subject fraught with doubt and difficulty. Is it really possible to know the will of God? we wonder. How do I know whether I have “discerned” God’s will or if it is just a good way to justify what I want? How do I make sense of those times when I thought I understood the will of God but it ended up being a mess? 

For the Christian person, the choices we make are always about love and which choice enables us to keep following God into love. There may be other factors to consider, but the deepest question for us as Christian people is, What does love call for in this situation? What would love do? 

From Susan:

When I read this story again this week, I imagined that I am Frank.  I know my Torah, and the Torah clearly says that there are six days for work, and that on the Sabbath we should not do any work.  I am indignant that Jesus should disobey the law, and in my anger, I can't stop myself from pointing out his error. 

When Jesus calls me a hypocrite, he reminds me that there is more to this commandment than simply the prohibition of work.  Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. (Deut 5.15)

Sabbath is the day we celebrate our liberation. Jesus freed Rhoda from her captivity that day.  Wow. 

Although I am humiliated at being corrected by Jesus, I have learned something today.  Isn't learning one of the reasons we come to synagogue?

Why do you come to church? 

Last week's circle conversation was rich. We are learning to notice and to find words for experiences and feelings we have during worship. Was it scary?  Not at all…we talked about everything from an Eagles Concert to the Camino Trail and being called by the Lord of Sea and Sky.  We also, of course, talked more about Rhoda and Frank.  We are learning that there is more than one way to read any single scripture passage…there is no single right answer.  Our lives inform how we interpret things, and God’s Word is truly alive.

Donna is inviting us back this week for more conversation. I hope to see you there after worship.

Susan

PS.  We continue to keep Patrick, Monisa, Carmen and Jeremy in our prayers, since Elisa announced the sudden and grave illness of her brother-in-law, Patrick.  Ruth Haley Barton’s words (above) ring ever more true to me now.

Tell Me the Stories of Jesus

 

(Lyrics: William H. Parker)

This Sunday, we are starting a series focussing on the stories of Jesus.  We begin in the Book of Luke:

Luke 13. 10-17 

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.  When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’  Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, ‘There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.’

The Lord answered him, ‘You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?  Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?’

When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

One of the things I like to do as I read the stories of Jesus is imagine myself as one of the people in this story. 

I invite you to try this.  Who are you in the story?  Where are you?  How do you feel at various points in the story?  

Today I am the crippled woman. I am standing at the back of a room which looks like our church sanctuary.  It is packed with people.  I am listening carefully to what Jesus is saying.

I see Jesus looking right at me.  It is amazing to me that Jesus even sees me…and then to be called forward by him…spoken to!  He lays his hands on me and I am in tears. But I straighten immediately.  I am overjoyed. 

As I am looking into Jesus' eyes I hear a voice…the synagogue leader's voice. When he tells the people that the Sabbath is not the day to come to the Sabbath to be healed, I feel ashamed. I'm humiliated.  I lower my head.

Then I hear Jesus’ voice, and he is scolding the leaders.  I look up at the leaders and they are humiliated now.  I look around me at the people and they are smiling in delight with all of the wonderful things that Jesus is doing. 

I hope to see you on Sunday to worship this compassionate God and to spend more time with this passage.

An invitation from Rev. Donna and the Advisory:  As previously announced, Rev. Donna Dinsmore has rejoined CVC on a part-time basis.  As we begin this new journey together, Donna will be hosting a series of after-worship gatherings.  There will be conversations, singing, and reflections.  We hope you will stay for about 30 minutes after worship; this week we will enjoy some conversation to inform us and to reconnect with Donna!

What Do You Notice When You Read John 8:1-12?

 

What do you wonder?  I invite you to pause and think about these questions…perhaps in the wondering you will hear what Jesus is trying to say to you today.

John 8:1-12 (ESV) 

 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.  Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.  The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.  Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”  This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.   And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”  And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.  But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.  Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”   She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

I Am the Light of the World 

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

When I read our passage for Sunday Worship, what I noticed was: Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.  And then again later:  “And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.”

I wondered what he was writing.  And why was he writing on the ground?  

We’ll never know for sure what he wrote, and a few great theologians have speculated about why he was writing.

What I see is Jesus’ gentleness and compassion with everyone he was teaching on that day, even the scribes and the Pharisees who were challenging him.  He did not confront them with scolding or unkind words.  He did not embarrass them in front of the gathered crowd.  After he spoke, he turned away from them; he wasn’t even looking at them.

The first time he bent down and wrote with his finger may have been a symbolic reference back to God writing the Law on stone.  But by doing it a second time, after he spoke, he gave the scribes and the Pharisees time to think about what he had said and when they did that, “they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones.”

I invite you again to pause and think about what you notice and wonder…perhaps in the wondering you will hear what Jesus is trying to say to you today.

We welcome back Rev. Paul Beckingham to worship on Sunday.  He will be reflecting on this story and gathering us at the Lord’s Table.  I hope to see you on Sunday!

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