Sermons from Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] April 30, 2023 “Are They Actually Looking Out for You?” John 10: 1-10 – The Message “Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he’s up to no good—a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won’t follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter because they aren’t used to the sound of it.” 6-10 Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep rustlers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. You may recall a story we heard during Lent about a man who was born blind. Jesus mixed some dirt and spit together to create a mud paste and wiped it on the man’s eyes and when the man went to wash his face, he could see. When he came back with sight, people didn’t believe it was the same man. He had to keep saying, “No it’s me.” They took the man to his parents. “Is this your son? Why can he see?” They said, “Ask him. He can talk.” But they had heard his answers and didn’t like them so the Pharisees objected that this happened on the Sabbath – can’t be from God. Round and round and finally Jesus said, “I came so that those who cannot see now will, and those who can see, or who think they can see, may now become blind.” The Pharisees were indignant. “Surely you’re not calling us blind. Only sinners are blind.” Jesus responded, “If you were blind you wouldn’t have any sin. But because you say you can see, your sin remains.” How dare he. But the insults to their egos just continue, rolling right into today’s reading. Jesus said, 1-5 “Let me set this before you as plainly as I can.” He set before them the image of a sheep pen. [IMAGE 1] A sheep pen is an enclosure for sheep at night – walls, perhaps stones piled up, with one gate to limit access. Someone must watch the pen all night long to ensure no one climbs over the wall to steal the sheep or so a wolf doesn’t squeeze past the gate to devour the sheep. [OFF] It’s an unfamiliar image to us but everyone listening could fully understand. Jesus may have even said, “see that sheep pen over there?” Some villages might only have one sheep pen in common with many families. Again, Jesus said, 1-5 “Let me set this before you as plainly as I can.” And then he said, “If someone climbs over the fence instead of going through the gate, you know he’s up to no good—it’s a sheep rustler! A true shepherd walks right to the gate and the gatekeeper opens the gate to him. And when he calls out, his own sheep will recognize his voice and follow him out of the pen and go out to pasture. (So clearly, this is a pen with the sheep of more than one family.) Only his own sheep will follow the sound of his voice because it is familiar.” Jesus explained, “They won’t follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter because they aren’t used to the sound of it.” Jesus told this simple story, but as the text says, the Pharisees “had no idea what he was talking about.” So, he tried again. “Let me be explicit. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good and the sheep know it. Sheep won’t listen to a voice they don’t know. And again, he said, I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” I often find John’s gospel frustratingly unclear and its stories often so circular in motion I get lost. But with patience, this one will start to make sense. The Bible also has so many stories about sheep and shepherds, they can sort of all run together. That’s because this was the life of the people. I told the Lunch and Lectionary group that if Jesus had lived in Pittsburgh 100 years ago, he would have used a lot of images of steel mills and furnaces as hot as hell and the people living in run down tenant homes while greedy industrialists lived in mansions towering on the hillsides. Jesus spoke in ways that real people could clearly understand as relating to their own lives. Or if Jesus traveled through mining towns during the gold rush, he would have used lots of images of searching for gold and sifting through dirt and climbing into dark and dangerous tunnels that can cave in at any moment. Make sure your life is right every time you go in. Or if Jesus was in Cupertino today, he would have told as many stories about apples as he would have about sheep. He’d say, “I’m the Good Apple.” Instead, as Jesus goes on, 11-13 “I am the Good Shepherd.” And what does that mean? He explained, “the Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself to keep them safe if necessary. In contrast, a hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him. He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. He’s only in it for the money. The sheep don’t matter to him.” We get that. Someone who’s only in it for themselves. Here’s a modern reference. I’m constantly getting phone calls, voice mails, and texts from people trying to get me to sign up for their Medicare Advantage plan. Jesus would say, “I am your Good Medicare Plan Representative.” All the others are “wolves in sheeps clothing.” Only in it for the money. The sheep don’t actually matter to them. Rather, Jesus said, 14-18 “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me. In the same way, God knows me and I know God. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary.” That’s what the Good Teacher does too. They put themselves in front of their students to shield them every time another mass shooter walks into a school. Of course, they wouldn’t have to if it weren’t for the hired hands of the gun lobby. What was it that Jesus said? Only in it for the money. The sheep/the children don’t matter to them. They are the price they are willing to have someone else pay. But then Jesus added a curious line: “You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too. They’ll also recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one Shepherd.” The text continues, 19-21 ”This kind of talk caused another split in the religious ranks. A lot of them were saying, “He’s crazy, a maniac— completely out of his head. Why bother listening to him?” He’s demonic. But others weren’t so sure: “These aren’t the words of a crazy man. Can a ‘maniac’ open blind eyes?” Ah! And we’re back to the beginning where this all started. Full circle. “Surely you’re not calling us blind!” The story then jumps to Jesus walking around the Temple and a crowd of his opponents encircle him and growl, “How long are you going to test our patience?” Perhaps mumbling something about decorum too. Jesus went right back to talking about sheep and how no one is going to snatch them away on his watch. To which the opposition actually picked up stones and threatened him – not for hurting their egos but for “insulting God!” After that, Jesus left town and went back to where John had baptized him. It’s reassuring to know that when Jesus knew he needed to take a break, he took a break. That’s the example of a very good shepherd indeed. Protecting sheep is exhausting work! If you only look at the lines provided by the lectionary, this story lacks the drama and the tension that surrounds it. And without understanding the agricultural lives of these people, it’s all an abstraction. We might simply think of a nice pastoral image of Jesus holding a cute little lamb and saying, “I am the Good Shepherd,” with an adoring smile as he gazes lovingly. Rather, he is engaging the forces of those who steal, kill, and destroy while he tries to protect those whom he loves so much, he is willing to lay down his life to protect them. That’s the line I skipped over in the middle of all this. Jesus said, “I freely lay down my life. No one takes it from me. I lay it down of my own free will. I have the right to lay it down; I also have the right to take it up again.” Yes. This is what a Good Shepherd does. And how about all those other hired hands and sheep rustlers? What are they in it for? Sacrifice has nothing to do with it.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who sacrificed his life for you, but not only you. And anyone who tries to convince you that you are the center of the universe is only trying to steal, kill, and destroy. For themselves. How can we know the difference? Ask:
Only a false shepherd would say your interests are more important than the interest of the whole. I mean, you matter, you count, you belong to the almighty God of the entire cosmos who knows you by name – can you believe it! But it all means nothing without everyone else whom God also knows and loves just as much. There is only one flock called humankind. And if you hear a shepherd say that kind of thing, you can trust they are good.
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April 27, 2023 I never aspired to live in California. I did aspire to live in Denver, which my husband and I achieved in 2007. We thought Colorado would be our forever home, but one day I visited San Diego. Why I was in San Diego in the first place is an incredible story – trust me – but too long for here. I enjoyed walking the beaches every day but did not have aspirations to live there. When I returned home, even though I hadn’t suggested it, my husband was clear: We’re not moving to San Diego. Well… Almost two years from the day he said that, we went under contract for a condo in San Diego. In the meantime, because of work commitments, we lived apart for 18 months – maintaining an apartment in San Diego and a house in Denver. If only maintaining two households was as cheap as buying one place here. Let me quickly add I wasn’t seeking a new job but things came together in such a way that it was undeniable I was called here and it has been a wonderful match. We were clear the real estate market would be difficult. We spent a lot of time trying to wrap our heads around the insanity of the possibility or even likelihood of paying one million dollars for a place to live, if we could even find one – although we did set some limitations. Even though there was no way we could afford to live in the neighborhood of the church, with small 900 square foot houses across the street selling for $1.5 million, I still wanted to live close enough to the church that it didn’t involve a long commute and I could feel part of the community. We also wanted to be a commutable distance to the train station so our adult child could make the 30-minute train ride to his work in La Jolla (a job he could transfer from Denver). And, if possible, live close enough to my husband’s work for him to feasibly walk to work downtown. After 18 months apart, a week after they permanently moved to San Diego, we met with a realtor and later that day went to our first open house – a two-bedroom condo for $900k. Plus HOA. It was a no. Then a two-bedroom townhome. Yes, please, even though it was literally under planes preparing to land. We put in an offer, contingent on the sale of our home in Denver – although I was awake at night horrified at the size of the mortgage on a $950,000 home. The deal they accepted almost fell through several times over the course of several weeks but finally slipped through our fingers for the last time – five minutes after learning our offer on another home wasn’t accepted either. In the meantime, we saw a very small but move-in ready condo for the low, low price of $725k. We debated too long and by the time we got around to making an offer, it was under contract for $780k. Every morning we woke up to see if there were any new possibilities – most days there were no new listings. On several occasions we saw a listing, told our agent we wanted to see it, arranged a time the next day to tour, only to be told it was already gone. So, we learned to submit offers before even seeing the house. We were learning to play the game. We saw one that was quite promising, not exactly in our ideal location but close enough. Our agent arranged for us to see it Friday night before weekend open houses and we brought a full ask offer in hand – trusting only in pictures that turned out not to be quite accurate, but we could still make it work. After all, it was a bargain at $800,000. Plus HOA. We hoped they would take our offer and cancel the open houses. They didn’t and when we came by on Saturday, the house was flooded with potential buyers. We learned they accepted an offer we couldn’t have matched just five minutes before losing the one I mentioned above that we had our heart set on. I wanted to get off this heart-break roller coaster, but what if the right home came open while on our break? We kept looking at the few options as they came up and kept reducing our “must haves.” We saw one that we later discovered was listed on the disclosures as a hazardous waste site, for $925,000! Yet, during the open house, it was filled with people trying to find a home under a million. However, by this point we were in a very good position. We closed on our house in Denver, had enough for a down payment in the bank ready to wire, and were fully underwritten for a mortgage the size of which we hoped we wouldn’t need to use. It was then that our agent sent us to an open house for a condo that had been on the market for 66 days and had dropped in price twice – into our range, though just barely. It would be open Saturday morning at 11 am, but while we were driving there, we got a call that they had pulled it. They had a buyer. Perfect location for our three commutes, two blocks from Balboa Park – high on our wish list. So, we went to the ocean instead, not a bad consolation prize. The next day at church, a woman greeted me after worship and said, “I bought a condo!” I didn’t know she was looking. “Where?” “By Balboa Park.” My heart sank. “975?” She had gone on Zillow, saw a listing, clicked the button to connect to a realtor, and placed an all-cash offer. The sellers accepted, eager to finally sell a property they had vacated months before. She explained she is not moving to San Diego but will use it for the good deal of time she is. As she told the story, we were surrounded by people who had seen pictures and marveled at how beautiful it was. I might have looked crestfallen. Yes, I know. It was the one we were on our way to see the day before. As the group continued to chit chat, a few minutes later, she said, “Why don’t I step aside and let you buy it. My deposit isn’t due until Tuesday. I haven’t put down any money yet.” I may have thought about it for 10 seconds but immediately dismissed it as an idea that could be inappropriate – pastoral ethics and boundaries. She offered a second time. “No, I’d really like to do this.” As people stood watching, I said no again, thanking her for her kindness. She repeated a third time. Well… OK. Let’s at least see if it could work. This is exactly the sort of unusual, but now familiar, thing that has happened in my call to Mission Hills United Church of Christ and our move to San Diego. I was only willing consider it because I know this woman quite well. She is an attorney who lives most of the time in the Bay Area. She frequently comes to San Diego to see friends and family and, when in town, go to church. We’re in Bible Study on Zoom together most weeks, she co-chairs the mission and outreach committee, a meeting I often attend, and we’ve had breakfast together a couple of times. More than perhaps most people, I know what motivates her and by what ideals she aspires to live. She is consistent and I knew she meant it when she said, “I want to step aside for your family.” But, the first thing we had to do was see how high this 3rd floor unit was. Height is an issue and time was of the essence. A decision had to be made before she paid any deposit, due on Tuesday. I immediately left church while people were still milling around so I could pick up my husband and we could look up at the balcony. When I called and explained, he didn’t believe my story, thought I was joking, but he consented to play along. We met the woman outside the condo. The height seemed OK so we called our realtor, who was in Kentucky with his sick mother. He called his associate, who had shown us a $700,000 dorm room on Friday night, to come over and show us the inside. This associate had a 1 pm open house and it was now 12:15, but he could come for 15 minutes. We went inside the unit and looked around while he and the woman talked. He tried to figure out why she would do this because he had to believe her before trying to convince a very-likely skeptical seller’s agent who, as it turned out, wasn’t just skeptical but vehemently opposed. This had to be some kind of deception. No one would step away like this. Fortunately, the agent helping represent us is chair of the San Diego committee who deals with unethical behavior by realtors, so he’s quite attuned to this. The unit is beautiful. Spacious. Huge south facing windows, good for watching planes land. Small balconies off both bedrooms, separated on opposite sides, each with their own bathroom. Parking garage with two spots. And our absolutely preferred location two blocks from the park. Let’s make this work! Our agent got to work and spent 30 minutes trying to persuade the skeptical agent, assuring her of the woman’s motives. Finally, she consented to present it to her buyers. Somewhat confused, they agreed. We also paid over-asking, so they pocketed a little extra money too. Let me stop to praise our agents. Our miracle dream home didn’t just land in our laps. We had dream agents who worked as hard and as fast as they could, and among other things, also had to work out a deal with the agent from Zillow so he wouldn’t lose out. On Monday, the sellers went to lunch with their good friends. They had news. After 66 days on the market, they finally had a deal, except now the buyer wants to step aside for someone else – something about a minister. Their friends looked at them and laughed. “That’s our pastor.” This is all legitimate. It was Sunday night when our realtor contacted our lender. He was at Legoland but returned our call to action immediately. We sorted through all the mortgage options on Monday morning, size of down payment, buying down points, a flurry of paperwork and all the disclosures, etc. And just like that, we were under contract on Tuesday and wired our deposit – the same day the seller would have received the other deposit. One week from closing in Denver. Two years since “We’re not moving to San Diego!” But not so fast. Clergy have regular boundary trainings and this story should raise for us all kinds of red flags. And perhaps even occupy a gray area in the end. Was the person who stepped aside capable of such a decision? Was this done in secret? Would there be any monetary harm or gain? Would the relationship between the pastor and member change or be subject to tension? In between hearing “I’ll step aside for you” three times, I asked these and many other questions. And continued to. Repeatedly and frequently in the middle of the night. Several important points: the woman is a practicing attorney, not a vulnerable adult. This would be a second home and would not displace her. She had not put down any money, though she had paid for an inspection – which we reimbursed. The whole idea came to her, not me, while people stood around listening to it unfold. This is completely in character for her. Will it change the pastoral relationship? When I first moved to San Diego and needed a temporary apartment for 18 months, a member offered to rent me one in a building they owned. I turned it down over possible tenant/landlord complications. What about this time? Perhaps I am rationalizing. Could we have waited and kept looking? Did I want to get off the housing-search roller coaster? Yes, to both. For both clergy looking to buy and churches trying to call a pastor to places with such outrageously high real estate prices and limited options, what are some solutions to a problem that’s only getting worse – not to mention for teachers and nurses and social workers and everyone else. We are extraordinarily fortunate to have owned a home we had lived in long enough to amass funds for a down payment. We have no student loan debt. Our child who lives with us is now a young adult. We are both fortunate enough to be 30 years into our careers. But can we keep paying this mortgage in retirement, because along with HOA fees, utilities, insurance, etc., this will eat up an unbelievable 67% percent of my husband’s and my take-home pay. We toyed with the idea of just renting/leasing instead of buying, but is that wise? I know for many younger people, it is the only option. I have no complaints about my congregation’s generous compensation – but can all churches do this? Will all clergy come with sufficient resources on their own? Of course not. And what does that portend for the church? Some churches with means in Northern California are acting like lenders who own percentages of the homes of their pastors. Holy cow that could be complicated! How can churches of any size recruit good candidates to move to California when it puts the financial futures of their pastors at risk? Might it lead to some good ethical questions – not unethical – in order to find housing? It could. And I would understand. I grew up in North Dakota in a tiny old drafty farm house which in the winter was surrounded by hay bales to insulate and plastic wrap to keep out the snow. There’s something about a pastor with a million-dollar home that seriously creeps me out. And ironically, there could be no greater contrast in my housing situation today from my first church. I lived in a massive run-down 100-year old, four-bedroom, four story parsonage in inner city Cleveland, six feet out the front door of the church. Some commute is a good thing! In an area with plenty of boarded up houses, the owner of one right behind us offered to give their house to the church to get it off their hands. We politely declined. My entire annual salary would have made only three monthly mortgage payments in San Diego! Two at my job at the UCC offices in Washington, DC. But while I sort through all these emotional and ethical issues, here’s the final best thing about this fantastical story: On my candidating weekend at Mission Hills UCC in August 2021, my sisters and brother-in-law were here with me. They went to pick my husband up at the airport. It was his first time in San Diego. He marveled at the beautiful marinas by the airport. It reminded him of Lake Erie and home. As they were driving along he pointed at a small house. How much do you think that is? Probably a million. For that!? Oh boy… The next morning my sister Mona woke to excitedly tell us a dream she had. First of all, however, you need to know: It was because of Mona I was originally in San Diego. I had tickets to visit her in Phoenix for a week in April 2021. A few weeks before, she told me she had to have unexpected surgery and would be in bed with her foot up for 12 weeks. She didn’t want me to simply sit by her bed, so why don’t I go to San Diego to walk the beaches? It all started from there. So, her dream: “One of your church members is going to give you a house!” She was sure of it. I responded that would have to mean someone agrees to sell theirs to us, not give it to us for free. We were both right and her dream came true. It is literally our, or rather her, dream home! I am so grateful to have received such generosity of spirit and hope it inspires more from me to others. And now - off to sign the final closing papers and get the keys. Sermons from Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] April 23, 2023 “Our Majestic Earth” Psalm 8 – Common English Bible Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth! You made your glory higher than heaven![b] 2 From the mouths of nursing babies you have laid a strong foundation because of your foes, in order to stop vengeful enemies. 3 When I look up at your skies, at what your fingers made-- the moon and the stars that you set firmly in place-- 4 what are human beings that you think about them; what are human beings that you pay attention to them? 5 You’ve made them only slightly less than divine, crowning them with glory and grandeur. 6 You’ve let them rule over your handiwork, putting everything under their feet-- 7 all sheep and all cattle, the wild animals too, 8 the birds in the sky, the fish of the ocean, everything that travels the pathways of the sea. 9 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth! Before there was anything, there was God, a few angels, and a huge swirling glob of rocks and water, in no particular order. The angels asked God, “Why don’t you clean up this mess?” So, God collected rocks from the huge swirling glob, put them together in clumps and said, “Some of these clumps will be planets, and some will be stars, and some of these rocks will be… just rocks.” Then God collected water from the huge swirling glob and put it together in pools of water and said, “Some of these pools of water will be oceans, and some will be clouds, and some of this water will be… just water.” The angels said, “Well, God… it’s neater now. But is it done yet?” God said, “Nope.” On some of the rocks God placed growing things and creeping things, and things only God knows what they are. And when God had finished doing all this, the angels asked, “Is it done yet?” “Nope.” God made some animals for the rocks and some swimming things for the water and then some humans by combining some water and stardust and told them, “I’m done. Please finish up the world for me. Really, it’s almost done.” But the humans protested: “You have the plans. We can’t do this alone.” “Yes, you can,” said God, “but I’ll agree to this. You keep working on it and I’ll be your partner.” The humans asked, “What’s a partner?” God explained, “A partner is someone you work with on a big thing that neither of you can do alone. If you have a partner, it means you can never give up because your partner is depending on you. On the days you think I’m not doing enough and on the days I think you’re not doing enough, we commit to keep working together. That’s my offer.” And they all agreed to the deal. The next time the angels asked God, “Is it done yet?” God answered, “I don’t know. Go ask my partners.”[1] How is our side of the deal going? For Earth Day, I thought we should ask the question. But first, why? The God question. The theological answer seems obvious to me. In Christian terms, “all things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God gave them all.” And we are to be the careful stewards. It’s simply stewardship. Or as Muslims call it – Khalifah: we are trustees. “We are not masters of this Earth; it does not belong to us to do with as we wish. It belongs to Allah who has entrusted us with its safekeeping.” Buddhists speak of the interconnectedness of human beings, society, and Nature. But the Dalai Lama added, “taking care of the earth is nothing special, nothing sacred, and nothing holy. It’s like taking care of our own house. We can’t just pick up and move to another planet.” Hindu tradition also understands that “humans are not separate from nature. We are linked by spiritual, psychological, and physical bonds with the elements around us.” Poetically, I love how His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew 1 of the Eastern Orthodox Church puts it: “The whole world is a sacrament. And humankind stands as a priest before the altar of creation, as microcosm and mediator.” Humans are like priests at the altar of creation – mediating for its good. Wow! From our different perspectives, these traditions come to the same place of care and protection for the earth as an act of our various faiths.[2] And yet a careless attitude toward the environment is often an appeal to the Bible – for example, we are only slightly less than divine and we have dominion over the earth to do as we please. To me, Christians or any person of faith should be at the forefront of protecting God’s handiwork. So, why are so many Christians the biggest climate change deniers, or object to the idea that is human caused and do something? Well, for some, the earth is a sinking ship. It’s going down so the role of the church is to give people life vests. Saving souls. To get us off of here. Think of the images from books and movies of the saved being taken up in a rapture, leaving a despoiled earth behind for the heathen. Yet, 500 years ago Martin Luther is said to have remarked, "If I knew Jesus would return tomorrow, I’d still plant a tree today." Verse 6 of Psalm 8 says, “You’ve let them rule over your handiwork.” But better said, it’s not that God’s lets us “rule over” but that God lets us, or entrusts us to, “care for” God’s handiwork. And we’ve been lousy partners – focused more on how humans are “slightly less than divine” as an excuse. At the top of the food chain. Though some Christians are the forefront of climate change as a hoax, I’m grateful for how many young evangelicals are bucking this trend – changing this attitude – who understand that human activity is in fact punishing our majestic earth. You heard Devin read the familiar text from Matthew about “the least of these.” Or as The Message puts it: the overlooked and ignored. To me, not protecting the earth is the same as not feeding the hungry. In both, we reject Jesus. When you pollute the water, you pollute me. When you cut down the forests, you cut me down. When you disbelieve the havoc of a warming planet, you disbelieve me. When Samoans flee their islands because of rising seas, you are displacing Jesus. Doubting Thomases might demand, “Prove it.” Thomas said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.” And yet, instead of complaining about his lack of faith and saying “Get behind me Satan,” Jesus simply said, “Here. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Take your finger and examine my hands.” If that’s what it takes, ok. It was with patience and understanding from Jesus that Thomas then exclaimed, “My master. My God.” And from there Thomas spread the faith and is considered the founder of Christianity in India. Thomas demonstrates that it’s never too late for those who don’t believe now to get on board and accomplish amazing things. And that’s like Scott Rodin. Scott was an ardent Christian climate change doubter who has been born again and now calls himself an “evangelical environmentalist.” He had been taught to be afraid of environmentalists because they’re all left-wing, socialist, former hippies who have no job and hate those who do. They’re all alarmist, scare-mongering activists who chain themselves to trees and, annoyingly, always claim the world is coming to an end. They’re all shame peddlers, always wanting to make everyone feel guilty for the way we live and for not caring about the rain forest, polar bears, and spotted owls. And worst of all, they’re all atheists who worship nature and hate Christians. And, he said, if that’s what you’ve been taught, then don’t be surprised if Christians don’t want to partner up. But he’s been converted. How is a longer story, but he now drops off his recycling on the way to Bible study. And he uses electricity generated from solar panels to show films about Jesus. And he proudly displays a Save the Whales bumper sticker next to the emblem of a Jesus fish on his car. It starts small and grows. He’s having an impact on his skeptical neighbors and church members. Although, really, to make a dent in the problem, it has to be done on a scale such as companies and governments have. I love stories like how a Kentucky coal company is refurbishing an old mining site with a massive solar farm, generating 5 to 10 times more than the next biggest site in Appalachia.[3] And generating clean energy jobs. As a church we have:
We can always question what more can we do to be good partners with God for the sake of our majestic earth, the gift of God entrusted to us lowly humans for care and protection. Because when we express love for our earth, we express love for Jesus. When we care about rain forests and polar bears and spotted owls, we can about Jesus. Congratulations on the steps you’ve already taken and keep asking what else we can do together? [1] Rabbi Marc Gelman, “Partners” from Does God Have a Big Toe, Harper Collins, 1989 [2] For excerpts of these statements and more, see www.greenfaith.org [3] https://thinkprogress.org/kentucky-coal-mine-solar-farm-a5d10d6526bb Sermons from Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] April 16, 2023 “A Real Life” John 20: 19-30 – The Message Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side. 20-21 The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were awestruck. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.” 22-23 Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?” 24-25 But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.” But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” 27 Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.” 28 Thomas said, “My Master! My God!” 29 Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.” 30-31 Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it. For our siblings in Eastern Orthodox churches today, Happy Easter! Either we were a week early or they are a week late. Naturally, of course, we ask, why is Easter on a different day – although, to add a twist, on rare occasions, they are the same day – like in 2017 and again in 2034. Well, for the first 300 years of Christianity, churches celebrated the resurrection any day they wanted. In 325, the Council of Nicaea sought to bring uniformity and proclaimed that Easter is on the first Sunday that occurs after the first full moon after the vernal equinox, but also always, and only, after Passover. Got it? To avoid confusion, the vernal equinox was set as March 21. This system would guarantee that all churches would forevermore celebrate Easter on the same day. Except. There’s always an except… In the year 1054, “The Great Schism” split Christianity into eastern and western churches – Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic. “Why” is a whole other very complicated story and depends on who is doing the telling. Even so, for the next 500 years, Easter remained on the same day, but in the 1500s, the Western church started following the Gregorian calendar while the East stayed on the Julian calendar. Plus, the Western church decided that Easter didn’t have to follow Passover. And ever since then, we celebrate Easter on different days, except occasionally. In any case, we both proclaim that Christ is Risen! Christ is risen indeed! Except that in some Orthodox communities, they add a third phrase. Christ is Risen! Christ in Risen Indeed! I can see him in your face.” Nice addition. But to say “Christ is Risen” still means the same thing, right? Of course not! What “Christ is Risen” means in western and eastern churches is fundamentally different. Like, totally different. In western churches, the resurrection happened to Jesus as an individual. (see picture below) In eastern churches, the resurrection of Jesus is an act that involves all of humanity all the way back to Adam and Eve. (see picture above) Think of Western Christianity as more of a “me and Jesus” kind of thing. Individuals. For example, how often have we heard it said: Jesus saved me. In Eastern Christianity, however, Jesus saves us – the whole of humankind. In western art that depicts the resurrection, Jesus is often slightly elevated, surrounded by light, arms spread open – a lone individual looking down. Alone. In the artwork of eastern churches – from Turkey and Greece and Russia and Egypt – icons of the resurrection often depict Jesus grasping the hands of Adam and Eve, often with prophets on either side. These icons portray the act of resurrection as Jesus rising up from the dead and taking everyone with him. Universal resurrection. No one is left behind. What difference does it make? In the gospel reading today, after the story of “doubting Thomas,” John completes the chapter by saying, “Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, you will have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.” You will have real life. What is that? And in 1st Peter, “Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven – and the future starts now! The Day is coming when you’ll have it all – life healed and whole.” And the future starts now. So, I was curious. What is a real life? And instead of trying to answer it for you, I asked the question during my daily connections on Facebook Live this week. Plus, I emailed a few people and asked participants at Lunch and Lectionary. I got more answers than I can possibly share but here is some of the wisdom you shared. Danielle said, “A real life is a life with purpose and meaning, a life which has a positive impact on others.” Carol said, “I would define a real life as one where your life counts for something and you do something that makes the world a better place for others.” She adds, “hopefully a real life is a blend of both doing things for sheer enjoyment but also doing things to help improve the world in whatever way you can.” Danielle expanded her statement about purpose and meaning to say, “A real life is a life lived with authenticity, with courage to be your true self, and the full scope of human emotion (excitement and fear, joy and sorrow). It’s not always safe or easy, but it is fully worth living.” That’s very true. And Lois explained how. “A real life is living one day at a time. It is surrendering to God what we cannot control, giving to and helping others in need, having gratitude for all that we have, and finding peace and joy in our hearts even in a broken world.” Pondering my question further, Carol asked, “is a real life synonymous with a good life or a life well lived? Or is a real life closer in meaning to an authentic life? Day to day life so often involves presenting ourselves to others or acting a certain way to fit into what society expects of us. It seems to me that a real life is one where you present your authentic and honest self to others and, to perhaps use a cliché, live your own truth. And if one is fortunate, your close friends and family accept and love you as you are.” That was true for others too. Several spoke of what it feels like to be accepted and understood. And how especially important it is to understand and accept ourselves. John shared, “I was diagnosed at age 62 with Autism and some dyslexia. Suddenly, like completing a puzzle, my life events started to fall into place – why I survived a suicide attempt, why I was provided business mentors at the right time and found a loving and understanding husband. The toughest part has been learning to understand God’s timing is sometimes different than mine.” Rachel described a real life as living an examined life. And, similar to others, shared the difficulty of understanding grace and accepting forgiveness, adding that accepting forgiveness is hard work. Pat agreed. It’s hard to accept that yes, God has forgiven me but I have to forgive myself too. Sometimes I act as though I know better than God. In fact, as Rachel added, we often act as though we have higher standards than God. Why would God forgive me? In a real life, we’re OK with our shortcomings which allows us to embrace our strengths. And back to the gospel reading, real life is showing up with our scars, like Jesus to Thomas, showing our vulnerabilities, because in them, something good, at least in our group’s shared experiences, something good has always come. We discover this as stages, passages from one part of our life to the next. Not to be feared. And even death. Death is not a failure. It’s simply the next stage. As a group, we acknowledged that we are blessed with the wisdom of age. How can we tell someone without the gift of age? Well, by showing up with our scars and sharing with honesty and vulnerability, we can let people know that some of the worst times in life have been the very things that have led to the best times in life. They have prepared us for what is next – just like the resurrection. However, Laurie reminds us, “for most people in the world, real life is unfair. The zip code or country where we are born can make all the difference in how difficult or easy our lives may be. Real life is truly a mix of tribulation, sorrow, joy, and comfort, yet always having the presence of God with us to share in the good times and sustain us through the hard times. Yet even if our lives are going relatively smoothly, we hurt for those whose lives are a struggle. Therefore, real life involves following the Spirit’s leading to help make the lives of others better.” It is all related. We are all related. I really resonate with the idea of a universal resurrection in the Eastern tradition. A rising with Jesus and the rest of humankind, for the sake of humankind. A real life doesn’t make sense if anyone is left behind – at least, it doesn’t make sense as a belief within Christianity. This life, as Jesus personally revealed it, is about all of us together, not a few winning some game in some afterlife. The future is now. So, a real life is:
Those are a few of the things that constitute a real life, from the experience of our congregation, revealed by the life of Jesus. What else would you add? One more thing. The wisdom of Marla. When she fell and broke her hip, she didn’t ask, why me. She asked, “What is the gift in this?” A gift she could then share with others. That’s how humanity rises together. Sermons from Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] April 9, 2023 - Easter Sunday “Life, Goodness, and Love” Jeremiah 65: 17-25 – Common English Bible Look! I’m creating a new heaven and a new earth: past events won’t be remembered; they won’t come to mind. 18 Be glad and rejoice forever in what I’m creating, because I’m creating Jerusalem as a joy and her people as a source of gladness. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad about my people. No one will ever hear the sound of weeping or crying in it again. 20 No more will babies live only a few days, or the old fail to live out their days. The one who dies at a hundred will be like a young person, and the one falling short of a hundred will seem cursed. 21 They will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They won’t build for others to live in, nor plant for others to eat. Like the days of a tree will be the days of my people; my chosen will make full use of their handiwork. 23 They won’t labor in vain, nor bear children to a world of horrors, because they will be people blessed by the Lord, they along with their descendants. 24 Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear. 25 Wolf and lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the snake—its food will be dust. They won’t hurt or destroy at any place on my holy mountain, says the Lord. Five years ago, Loomis Basin UCC, located not far from Sacramento, looked at statistics from The Trevor Project[1] and decided they could do something:
So, Loomis Basin UCC started The Landing Spot, a place of support for LGBTQ youth and their parents, one of few such safe places in Placer County. In addition to groups that meet at the church, they have successfully worked in collaboration with area high schools for several years. But last month, it all came to a sudden and screeching halt. Two activists from Project Veritas masqueraded as the supportive parents of a trans teenager and asked to meet with Pastor Casey. Without his permission, they videotaped the conversation and then edited it – manipulated it – into something that would elicit community outrage. Project Veritas is an infamous, discredited, organization known for doing exactly this kind of thing. They released their deceptive video to the news media which, predictably and as they desired, led to the schools denouncing and cutting ties with The Landing Spot. And as intended, brought a whole lot of hate spewed toward the pastor and threats made upon the church.[2] They suspended in person services while sorting through security issues. But the church stands united, the need for their ministry confirmed. The Council Moderator stated they will not be intimidated and Pastor Casey said, “In the midst of the increasing nationwide attacks on the LGBTQ community, we are committed to walking in the way of Jesus.”[3] Another church was in the news around the same time. Chesterland UCC is in a rural area near Cleveland. They sponsored a drag story hour in collaboration with an area restaurant. Opponents to equality pounced, condemning what they called “a so-called church.” In response, the church wasn’t just condemned or even vandalized, one night someone actually threw lit Molotov cocktails, attempting to burn it down.[4] Story hour proceeded and the church’s resolve is to persist in showing Christ’s love because it is quite obviously necessary to counteract growing anti-LGBTQ legislation in Ohio. And elsewhere.[5] I was a tiny part of Chesterland’s journey to become Open and Affirming 30 years ago. They invited guest speakers to talk to church members and I preached there one Sunday. I remember it well because after worship a woman approached, walked around me, looked up, and said very sincerely, “I’ve never seen one of you before.” Today we celebrate the risen Christ. We proclaim that Life is stronger than death. And Goodness is stronger than evil. And Love is stronger than hate. The powers of supremacy and superiority and privilege just won’t stop trying, right? They keep trying to crucify Christ – and even worse, do it in the name of Christ. We celebrate the risen Christ and the way to truly celebrate the risen Christ is to walk in the way of the crucified Christ. Resurrection has no meaning without remembering what was done to Jesus in the last few hours of life – and why:
A toxic mix of empire and religion thought they had won. The religious authorities had been eager to work with the Roman governor to crucify Jesus because it allowed them to keep their positions of privilege and status. In turn, Pilate benefited by having these religious allies who could keep his subjects in line and thus keep him in power.[6] It was a great deal for everyone—except the people whom Jesus loved so dearly. But while these colluding partners had one idea, God had a very different one – that even though hate may try, and keep trying and trying and trying, love wins. But, does it really? Last week I tried to explain to children that in the resurrection, love wins. But even as I was saying it, I thought, yeah, it sure doesn’t feel that way. At least, not if you’re paying attention. In today’s reading from the Prophet Isaiah, the author offers a beautiful, hopeful vision to the exiles living as captives in Babylon; a vision of returning home and living in houses you build and eating from gardens you plant. There is one line of this vision I find especially powerful: “They won’t labor in vain any longer, nor bear children to a world of horrors.” Oh, what I wouldn’t give for a world without horror for children.
We make the resurrection of Christ real by walking in the way of the crucified Christ – individually and collectively – with the misunderstood and mistreated people Christ loves – the people for whom he willingly suffered – to bring life, goodness, and love. It is to do as Loomis Basin UCC did. To understand that just one accepting adult can reduce the risk of a suicide attempt by an LGBTQ youth by 40%. One person saying no to hate. Even better, a whole church. It involves a cost, but nothing as high as a life saved. That’s how love wins. It is to do as the organization Just in Time does. Just in Time gathers youth who have aged out of the crucifying experience of foster care to walk alongside them and help build a life beyond the horrors they have known as children. One at a time, a community is built that keeps growing stronger as we will learn more next month. And that’s how goodness prevails. It is to do as Mission Hills UCC does.
This is what it looks like to walk in the way of Jesus. The list is longer, and the needs even greater, but I need to wrap this up. To celebrate the risen Christ is to walk in the way of the crucified Christ. That’s how goodness prevails. That’s how love wins. Is it too simplistic? Or is it that simple?
Yes, Christ is risen. Will you come along so that Christ may keep rising? [1] https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2022/ [2] https://www.abc10.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/to-the-point/placer-county-pastor-receives-death-threat-controversial-video/103-b80a49b2-e139-4f27-9437-1f267794b182 [3] https://www.loomisucc.org/press-release [4] https://www.justice.gov/ur/node/1488816 [5] https://www.ucc.org/churches-in-ohio-california-attacked-for-sponsoring-drag-shows/ [6] https://time.com/6269313/trump-jesus-comparisons-blasphemy/ |
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