Your Faith Journey - Finding God Through Words, Song and Praise

This is a special musical presentation of Rain Dance by Calvin Kadrofske on Marimba at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

Have you noticed that some people feel called to put themselves in the middle of conflict? Sometimes those of us are transitional or interim pastors can find ourselves there. I have seen some people run from it and others run to it. I feel that I am some place in between the two.

My husband and I were members of a church where I began being the director of the contemporary group. We did worship every Sunday. The pastor retired and he had not dealt with conflict the entire time that he was there. 2 Interim pastors came. One took the regular pastoral responsibilities, and he ran from conflict and the other did the transition work and she ran to it.

I did my best to only observe. The transitional pastor actually helped form and put together the training for the intentional interim pastors. One needs to understand that there will be conflict and disagreements. It takes the ability to separate out yourself and set boundary lines. One needs to have the ability to listen to all people.

Conflict is normal and you have experienced it here. It is interesting what we chose to dig our heels in on. Often we have the support of our families in our individual lives when we experience conflict. In our Gospel lesson today, Jesus did not. He was causing such a stir among the church leaders that his family felt he was making them look bad.

His family did not understand at this point who he really was and what he had been called to do. Maybe you have had a family member at one time, or another pull you aside and ask you if you really wanted to die on this hill. Depending on how you felt about it, you may have considered it and backed down or felt your were called to continue.

Jesus' family were to the point that they wanted to restrain him and probably take him home as people thought he was crazy. Then came the church leaders who put him in league with the ruler of the demons as Jesus had been casting out demons. Jesus of course challenged them and asked them, "How could satan cast out satan?" If one is casting out the other, the house is divided and will fall. If satan has risen up against himself, how can he stand?

Jesus had reduced the church leaders thinking to absurdity. He goes on to say that if anyone enters a strong person's house, the strong person being satan, cannot take their property unless they are tied up. Jesus is separating himself from satan by saying that he is stronger than satan.

He becomes bolder and says that everyone's sins are forgiven except those that put he and satan in league together. The Greek word translated never here is not a good translation as recent scholars have felt it is misleading. Jesus has always said that forgiveness is for all, but it needs to be received. If satan does not give forgiveness and one equates Jesus with satan, why would you be looking for forgiveness.

In a sense Jesus now turns on his family as when they came to call him out and probably expect to take him home, Jesus asks the question, "who is my family?". I'm sure this threw everyone for a loop. He then said to them my family are those who do God's will. Of course this could have included his biological family.

What is Jesus trying to teach in all of this turmoil and misunderstanding? Could it be that Jesus is trying to tell all of them and us that not everyone will agree or understand what Jesus is saying and doing? Jesus is describing what the beloved community looks like.

There are many different variations on this picture, but in the end not everyone will see things the same way. We will have many misunderstandings. Messages will not always be clear. What one sees may be different from another and the interpretations can be different. Does this sound familiar?

Ramona described a church that she belonged to that ended up closing. But through the years, even though there were many different ways of thinking, they worked together to try and move the church forward. It wasn't meant to be and I'm sure there were many disagreements and misunderstandings, but they stayed together until it was a congregational decision to close before all of the resources were gone. They chose then to share their resources with other ministries. This is what beloved community is about.

Jesus calls us into beloved community. We all come from different places. Our experiences are different. Jesus calls us to listen to each other. When we make things about what I want, it is very easy to miss what Jesus wants. I always try to think about what is best for the community and sometimes I fail at this.

The beloved community has a place for everyone, yet it is not about conformity. Thus, when we say we want to grow and new people come through the doors, I would anticipate new ideas and we are called to try and welcome the people and their ideas. If people do not experience this welcome, they will stop sharing their ideas and find a place that will welcome them and hear their ideas.

Growth does not come by doing things the same way all the time. One of the directions that has come out of our conversations this past year is to provide opportunities to connect directly with and serve the community. Faith has some great ministries to serve the community, but how is Faith directly connecting with the community. What opportunities are being provided for this direct connection?

One opportunity to connect directly with the community is being offered by the RIC committee. On Pride Day in Meridian Township on August 10, there will and ecumenical Pride service in the morning. In the late afternoon we will again have a table at the Market Place on the Green Pavilion. We will be asking for volunteers to be available at the table to give things out and have information about Faith Lutheran Church. It will also be a time that others can experience the welcome that we have to offer.

Connecting with the community can bring in new people, backgrounds and ideas. This seems to be what has been spoken, but are there any measurable goals to make this happen? I understand this takes time, money and effort. The question becomes how is God calling Faith Lutheran Church to directly connect with the community?

The transition team will be recommending to the council to develop a measurable goal as to discern how God wants Fath to directly connect with the community. Since not a great deal of this is happening right now, there will be new things to do.

Today we will be burning the mortgage to the property that we just sold. Eventually the hope is that apartments will be built. This can create opportunities for Faith to directly connect with the community.

Beloved community is about seeing Christ in other people. We know that is not always easy to do. This takes work, humbleness and intention. Being in beloved community means change.

Jesus is reminding us today that he calls each one of us into beloved community. Sometimes it gets messy. This is when we need to keep our eyes on Jesus. Messiness causes us to have make decisions that are not easy. Jesus says make them for the sake of the community.

At the heart of beloved community is agape, sacrificial love. Jesus demonstrated what that looked like in the way he lived his life. When we are feeling uneasy, angry or uncertain, we can remember that we are not alone in the messiness of life. Jesus walks with each one of us because he loves us.

Let us pray: God of chaos and peace, there are times in our lives and the life of our beloved community that things get messy. Jesus reminds us today that this is normal. It doesn't always make us feel comfortable, but we thank you that you don't leave us to fend for ourselves.

In our beloved community, we ask that your Holy Spirit would continue to lead and guide us. Give wisdom and guidance to our leaders as move forward.

In Jesus' name. Amen

This is a special musical presentation of Majesty by Addie Thompson and Deb Borton-McDonough playing the handbells at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

What is sabbath or what is the sabbath day? Different religions have different days, thus we can't say one day is totally right or wrong? Christians have said throughout history that Sunday is our sabbath. But what about Christian churches who have Saturday night services?

At one point in our history, Sundays were strictly observed as "the sabbath". Stores and even restaurants were closed. Chick-Filet even today is closed on Sundays. Life has evolved and some may say things have progressed. Others might say that we have gotten off track.

We now have sports games on Sunday mornings. They seem to take precedent over worship services. Notice I didn't say sabbath. The original Hebrew root of the word means to cease or desist. The double b creates an intensive force. We have often thought of sabbath as rest and relaxation, but it's original root only means cease from activity.

Of course, with any word or in a sense concept it has a history. To go through the whole history would not be helpful in the midst of a sermon. In the initial stages of its evolution the sabbath was observed by ceasing from all physical labor and it was considered as taboo if they didn't cease. It was regarded as an unlucky day, an evil day under control of gods or spirits. Thus, one didn't want to allow gods or spirit to take control.

The sabbath is of Jewish origin and eventually became a day with positive respect to the Deity. The observance of the seventh day of the week was a sign between God and God's people that on that seventh they would rest as God rested on the seventh day of creation. Of course this was Saturday. In trying to enforce it, it became a burden.

In our Gospel lesson today, Jesus is trying to reframe the importance of sabbath to not make it a burden. The burden developed from human beings trying to interpret the law and enforce it to maintain control. Jesus never came to do away with the law, but to allow it to breath and support human beings with guidelines in which to live in relationship with God and neighbor.

The Pharisees in our Gospel lesson were the keepers of the law. Thus, they were always looking for any infraction. The disciples were hungry, thus as they were walking through a field of grain, they began to pluck heads of grain. They were guilty of two infractions of the law.

The disciples were travelling and harvesting on the sabbath. They should have stayed where they had been the day before and prepared their food. Now I would guess that the Pharisees thought they should have fasted or essentially gone hungry since they were not prepared.

Jesus reminded the Pharisees of a time when David and his companions were hungry. David entered the house of God and ate the bread of the presence. It is not lawful for anyone to eat this bread except the priests. David gave some to his companions also.

Jesus in trying to reframe the law about the sabbath, told the Pharisees that that the sabbath was made for humankind and not humankind for the sabbath. He was trying to point out that it's not about worshipping the law to the detriment of people. I'm sure the Pharisees did not like to hear this.

Then to be more bolder, Jesus said that the son of Man was lord even of the sabbath. I guess Jesus told the Pharisees that they did not know what they were talking about. There is no doubt that their anger was grower quickly. Who does this Jew think he is?

Now Jesus entered the synagogue and came across a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees eyes were on Jesus now ready to pounce on anything that he did. Jesus knew what was going on. He called the man forward and said to them "Is it lawful to do good or harm on the sabbath, to save or kill? They didn't know how to answer the question, thus, they remained silent.

Jesus looked around with anger and grief at their hardness of heart and then said to the man, "stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was restored. Now Jesus did not have to do this healing on the sabbath as his hand would probably not have gotten any worse by the next day or even at sundown.

In this healing, Jesus dd more than just restore the man's physical health, which was of course wonderful. The culture at that time was that most of the work was manual labor, thus the man could not provide for himself or his family. This healing on the sabbath was a restoration, a liberation, a new freedom to return to be a productive person in his culture.

The Pharisees were so angry they went out and colluded with the Herodians. They would not normally be doing anything with them, but they willing to do anything they could to take out Jesus. When a restoration for this man creates such anger and contempt, there is something drastically wrong.

Now to our sabbath. We have considered our sabbath to be on Sunday. Paul suggested to his Christian brothers and sisters to change the day of sabbath from Saturday to the first day of the week. Part of the thinking was that light was created on the first day and that Jesus, the light of the world, rose on the first day of the week. So how do we observe our sabbath?

You might say, well look at where we are. There are some churches that literally talk about obligations. The message that I hear from Jesus is that it is not about the day as much as it is about what happens on or in our sabbath time. If sabbath is to be about cease and desist from normal activity this is when rest, relaxation and liberation and freedom can occur. When we use a law or guideline that restricts and binds, it is time to rethink it.

Luther's meaning to the 3rd commandment, 'Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy,' is 'we are to fear and love God, so that we do not despise God's Word or preaching, but instead keep that Word holy and gladly hear and learn it.

This is not always about a day or place, but maybe more about our connection with God in Jesus Christ. It is about fostering our relationship with God in Jesus Christ. It is about being relaxed enough to focus on listening and what I talked about last week, being in dialogue with God in Jesus Christ which asks us to cease and desist from our normal activity.

Sabbath time can be different for all of us. All of us process differently, thus our dialogue will be different. "Have tos" are restricting. It is when we do things because we choose to and want to that we are able to relax and enjoy them.

Anything that restricts us and tells us this is what you have to do is not healthy for us. At that point, we would be allowing it to have control over us. Jesus says sabbath is for us to enjoy, to stop and refresh ourselves. Once again in order for that to happen we are asked to cease and desist from normal activity. I believe the invitation to make sabbath holy is meant to be, taking the time to foster our relationship with God in Jesus Christ.

The commandments that God has given such as remember the sabbath day and keep it holy was given to us to help us remember to take time to connect with God in Jesus Christ. We are reminded to be intentional about it, but not let it restrict us.

This may mean exploring other ways to connect with God in Jesus Christ. I hope coming here to worship is a desire and not an obligation. Do we desire to have sabbath time? Are we willing to allow it to happen? Our lives become so busy and full that time with Jesus is not always a priority.

Jesus reminds us today to desire to make our sabbath holy. A time that refreshes our connection with God in Jesus Christ. Our sabbath time is to be about refreshment and not restriction. It is about stopping what we normally do to connect and reconnect with God in Jesus Christ. Our challenge today is to assess our sabbath time. Are we ceasing our normal activity? Are we connecting at some time or place with God in Jesus Christ and refreshing ourselves? If not, it's time to make a change. If yes, continue to observe it.

Let us pray: God of the sabbath, we are here today observing the sabbath and connecting with you and each other. In our daily lives it is often difficult to cease our normal activity and connect with you. May your Spirit assist us in connecting with you in old ways as well as new and creative ways that we may grow closer to you. In Jesus name, Amen

This is a special musical presentation of Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by soloist Bob Nelson at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, MIchigan

When I worked on my pastoral counseling degree at the Moravian Seminary in Bethlehem, PA, I learned a new way of approaching scripture. It was to ask questions of the text in order to gain more understanding. In other words, what do I need to know in order to have somewhat of a grasp on the text.

This approach works for me as I like to be a detective with a text. I want to know the context. Who are all of the characters? Where are they? Setting – town, desert, on or by a lake, etc. What may be some of the words to examine in the original language? There is a free website called the Blue Letter Bible. It's commentaries are a bit conservative, but you can do word studies. Greek words often have more than one meaning and it is up to the translator to pick the English word.

In Hebrew, there can often be seven English words for one Hebrew word. Depending on what word is used, it can change the meaning of the whole passage.

When scholarship progresses, translators may change the English word.

In order to understand the original message, knowing the context and setting is necessary. As well as getting a grasp of the original language words. It's not about taking a verse or two and making it fit our way of thinking. It is about first getting a grasp of the message to the people who are listening in the text, their possible dialogue and what it means to them.

Very often there were people asking questions. This didn't mean that they didn't believe, but that they wanted to grow in their faith. Sometimes we are afraid that to ask a question means that we may look stupid. Actually, asking the question can further our knowledge and understanding. Just as in a text people may come from different backgrounds or different teachings. This all plays into the understanding of what is being said in context.

Today in our Gospel lesson, we have Nicodemus, who was a Pharisee and a leader of the Jews coming to Jesus who was known as a kind of a rebel Jew. He felt that coming to Jesus might help him better understand what Jesus had been teaching. Nicodemos also came at night so as not to be seen by other Jews and their leaders as he was not ready for their perceptions. There was something that Jesus had been teaching that Nicodemos wanted to better understand.

Nicodemos acknowledged that Jesus was a teacher from God. This may not have been something he did in public as most of the Jewish leaders did not like that Jesus was rocking the boat for them. Because of what Jesus had been doing, Nicodemus acknowledged that only someone sent from God could do what Jesus had been doing.

What had Jesus been doing in the Gospel of John up until this point? Jesus had turned water into wine at the wedding. Jesus had cleared the temple. These are what John chose to put in his Gospel.

Jesus was someone that Nicodemos trusted, someone that could give him a better understanding of God. Of course, Jesus makes a statement that makes Nicodemos scratch his head. "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."

Of course, Nicodemos could have just said okay without really understanding, but he continued this dialogue of faith as he wanted to understand what Jesus was talking about. He asked Jesus, how can anyone go for a second time into their mother's womb. Nicodemos was taking this literally. Another translation is being born from above.

This says our connection is with God. Yes we are physically born, but at baptism we are born again. At that time, it is acknowledged that we have eternal life. Parents and sponsors answer at an infant/child baptism for them in affirming this connection or relationship. At confirmation, we affirm that we are continuing in this relationship with God in Jesus Christ.

I believe that as adults we are called to create a safe environment for kids to ask questions. Now sometimes we don't have the answers and that is okay as long as we acknowledge that and try and discover the answer. The key here is that we need to trust a person in order to be able to ask a question. This is how we grow as people and as people of faith.

If we have learned as children that we should be seen and not heard, it can stunt our growth. We will be less comfortable asking questions. Jesus welcomes us to ask questions and Nicodemos must have sensed this. But if we ask the question, the answer may not be what we expect or may confuse us. Then the question is, do we have the faith that Nicodemos had to continue the dialogue?

This is what faith is about, continuing in the dialogue of life. Whether it be in our personal lives or the life of this church. Growth only comes from asking questions and looking at the possible options and choosing one. This also takes the ability to sit in uncomfortableness.

When we are able to trust that God in Jesus Christ is walking with us, we are more able to continue the dialogues that we encounter in our lives and the life of this church. It will give us the strength to sit in uncomfortableness. It is when we are able to do this that we will be able to see more clearly, God at work. So often we think that we are in it by ourselves, and we are not.

Whether we like it or not, life is always changing. Sometimes we get tired and need to step back and recenter ourselves. Jesus is still walking with us. We will never understand all of it, but we don't have to. I would be remiss in not mentioning the Trinity. We will never fully understand it and that is okay. When we try and have control over everything we lose our center and can forget that Jesus is walking beside us even when we don't understand.

It is not easy. I continue to go through changes in my life and waiting for the options to appear is frustrating. I have learned that eventually they appear and then to prayerfully examine each one and make a choice. Then I develop a plan and move forward. I have had a number of them over the years.

As the transition team has had their last meeting and the Ministry Site Profile is being prepared to be presented to the council at their June meeting, pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for your leaders. Right now, they have a great deal of responsibility and work to do. Please ask questions of the transition team and the council and they will answer the best that they know how. Also, take those questions to God in Jesus Christ. Ask the Holy spirit for guidance.

It is important to remember that our life and the life of this church is on God's time and not ours. God is at work. Jesus is walking beside us. Believe along with Nicodemus that Jesus has it together that we can ask him or tell him anything that we want.

It is when we are able to relax enough and trust Jesus in our dialogue that we will see God in Jesus Christ at work right now.

Let us pray: Triune God, we encounter so much in life and many times things just don't make sense. Our human nature says we can figure it out and often forget to turn to you until we find ourselves tired and near hopelessness. Thank you for reminding us today that you walk beside us and that you give us the permission to ask you questions and tell you how we feel.

Once again today, we renew our trust in you that as we go through the transitions in our own lives as well as here in this beloved community, we don't have to have all the answers and that you will reveal what we need to know in your time.

Thank you for always being with us. In Jesus, name. Amen

This is a special musical presentation of Bless His Holy Name by the Faith Lutheran Chancel Choir and the Faith Bells at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

This is a special musical presentation of True Light! by the Faith Lutheran Chancel Choir with a solo by Christopher Lewis at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

We are doing many things in our worship service today. Each one is a different celebration. It is important in our community of faith to recognize those things that we can celebrate. Celebrations can also remind us of what we can be thankful for.

We give thanks to God for our music staff and all that they do celebrate the gifts of all those who are called to participate in our music program. This is what the community of faith is about, sharing our gifts to the glory of God. Music can bring us closer to God in Jesus Christ. Music also proclaims the good news. Many times, in rehearsal Deb has said to preach what we are singing.

Music is an offering to God. We practice and practice and then we offer in worship to the best of our ability, the gifts we have been given. It is not considered a performance. Here is a good place to bring the Holy Spirit in as we rely on the Holy Spirit in our offering, to bring the message clearly home.

I believe we also have many singing with us today in the heavenly choir. Especially today, we can remember Walter and his many years that he sang in the choir. Many of you will also remember others who have participated in our music program who are in heaven continuing to worship and praise our triune God.

Today we also recognize our graduates. People who have been working on their education and continue to do so. We celebrate their gifts today and the gifts that God has given them to share with us and our neighbor. Once again the Holy Spirit is alive and active in their lives. We pray that as they continue their journey in the pursuit of education and experience that the Holy Spirit would continually remind them of Jesus' love for them and that this community of faith is here to continue supporting them.

Today we also celebrate the Affirmation of Baptism of 3 of our youth. We go back and forth on calling it confirmation or affirmation of baptism. It is all the same as the confirmands are confirming their relationship with Jesus Christ and affirming this relationship that began at baptism. In class we have studied this year the sacraments, Reformation, Advent & Christmas, the Old Testament and the New Testament. We did a retreat at Stony Lake, where we did all of the Holy Week services.

I can't forget to mention one of their favorite things to do, worship notes. Thank you for doing them as it helps me to see if what I have said in my sermons came across. Thankfully it seems that I have been getting the message across as what I read in their notes is what I said.

This past week we met with Calvin, Raymond, and Jasper and they shared with Pam, myself and their parents how they relate to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Thank you for your sharing your faith with us. They also shared the Bible verse that they chose for today and told us why. Thank you.

This is what is important, to see if the material we learned relates to their lives. The sharing they did was an opportunity for them to put their faith into words. Jesus calls each one of us to share our faith wherever we are on our faith journey. We hope that they will continue to share their faith and gifts here in our community in our ministries.

Yes, today is Pentecost where we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. We also call it the birthday of the Christian church. The story of Pentecost truly describes the church that Jesus was teaching about.

Jewish people gathered from all over to celebrate the giving of the Torah (the ten commandments, the law) to Moses. God picked this time as it was a scheduled celebration. Yet there were so many people who had come from different cultures and spoke different languages. How was this going to work? Jesus had prayed for the church to be one.

Too often we have equated oneness with thinking and feeling exactly the same way. Sometimes when this doesn't happen we can feel uncomfortable, anxious and often defensive. The beauty of being diverse and inclusive is that we are all different in some way. It is hard for some to believe that this is God's doing not ours.

What happened on that Pentecost Day is that everyone understood in their own language the message and work of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit allowed them to do this. She was bringing them all together even though there were so many differences.

Here is the model of the church that Jesus was preaching and teaching about. A place where peoples' differences are celebrated, respected and it invites the opportunity to learn from each other. We can grow into more whole people and see more of what God wants us to see. This is still the church that God is looking for.

This is our challenge to live and share this message within these doors and out in our community with our neighbor.

As we have gathered here today to celebrate the gifts here in this place at this time with each other and to glorify God. We are challenged to share them with our neighbor while celebrating, respecting and desiring to learn from their gifts and continue growing into the church that God envisioned on that Pentecost Day.

This is a special musical presentation of Rain Down! by the Singing Sinners at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.