the gospel this week

Mon Sep 29 11:33:17 EDT 2008

Dear Gulf Coast Leaders,

Today is the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels. One year to the day since
the installation. Hard to believe. Many thanks to those who are working so,
so hard to bring the congregations of this synod together as one. It is
inspiring to see what is happening by the grace of God. 

There is a veritable smörgåsbord of options for this Sunday (if you’ll
pardon the Eurocentric metaphor), I thought as I walked my prayers this
morning: World Communion Sunday, St. Francis’ day, and of course the
plodding lectionary of Ordinary Time. My walk has changed. The piles of
brush and logs and stumps along the road and sometimes in the road create an
obstacle course that demands more of my attention than usual. The smell is
good, but this hurricane took down so many trees, the pollen and dust leaves
my eyes watering and breathing labored by the time I return to the sanctuary
of my tightly-sealed, air conditioned house and scramble for my allergy
pill. After only six days without air, I am not only mindful of those I
spoke to in church yesterday still without power, and those in Galveston
that are still without power, but also the majority of the world that never
had power and never will. It is a perfect backdrop for both World Communion
and St. Francis.

I used to think World Communion Sunday was about Holy Communion. It is
actually an ecumenical day, like the week of Prayer for Christian Unity
(which falls between the Feast of St. Peter on January 18 and the Feast of
St. Paul on January 25). “Communion” here means “church body,” as in The
World-wide Anglican Communion.  I don’t believe there are any texts
appointed for this day, but perhaps a prayer by Safiyah Fosua will do by way
of introduction. 

Jesus prayed that we might be one.
     One in spirit
     One in mission
In union and communion with each other and with You. 

Today, God, we confess fumblings and failures in accomplishing unity, as we
set aside yet another day to remind ourselves of the task.
On this World Communion Sunday, give us eyes to recognize your reflection in
the eyes of Christians everywhere. 
Give us a mind to accept and celebrate our differences.
Give us a heart big enough to love your children everywhere.
We thank you for setting a table with space enough for us all! Amen. 

If you go with this, here’s a graphic:
http://www.franklincirclechurch.org/WorldCommunionSunday.gif. 

The Feast of St. Francis

Psalm 148:7-14 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm148.htm>  or Psalm 121
<http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm121.htm> 

Galatians 6:14-18 <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/gal6.htm> 

Matthew 11:25-30 <http://www.textweek.com/mtlk/matt11b.htm> 

Many congregations will celebrate a Blessing of the Animals this coming
weekend. It’s probably too late to plan it now if you’re going to do it next
Sunday. If you’re in a hurricane-affected area, it’s going to be way down
the list. And if you’re in a Houston-area congregation lightly affected, I’m
hoping you’ll be at the work day on Saturday, 10/4. But now’s the time to
start thinking about who could plan this next year – who in your
congregation loves animals, has organizational skills and get excited about
this. (And no one goes to hell for blessing animals on any of the other 364
days of the year.)

The first time I did one of these I was astounded at how emotional it was.
And at the turnout. People love their animals. You announce this a couple of
weeks in advance. Invite people to bring their animals. Use a short litany.
Wear a robe and colorful stole. Call the newspaper in advance. If you do
this a couple years in a row, the paper won’t want to miss this photo op.
It’s free advertising. Don’t do it on a Sunday, because people will be
distracted. Do it on a Saturday. Let people come casual. Provide
refreshments (and treats) so they’ll hang around and share animal stories. I
usually stacked the deck by specifically asking some people to bring their
animals. If you’re an urban congregation expect lots of dogs and cats and
hamsters. If you’re in the sticks, people will bring farm animals. We had
horses one year. You could offer pony rides and make a fun fall Saturday
morning of it. 

There’s not a full set of texts for St. Francis’ day either. The texts we do
have focus not on Francis’ love of animals, but his willingness to shun his
wealthy upbringing, his life in the army, and take on a life of simplicity,
devoted to charity towards the poor. Perhaps those without electricity still
can remember the masses who don’t have it at all, those who have it only to
one or two buildings in the village, or those who run their electricity only
for an hour a day or so.  

Proper 22

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 <http://www.textweek.com/pentateuch/ex20b.htm>  or
Isaiah 5:1-7 <http://www.textweek.com/prophets/isaiah5.htm> 
Psalm 19 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm19.htm>  or
<http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm80.htm> Psalm 80:7-15
 <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/phil3.htm> Philippians 3:4b-14
 <http://www.textweek.com/mtlk/matt21c.htm> Matthew 21:33-46

Exodus is of course the Ten Commandments. “I am the Lord your God. I brought
you out of the land of Egypt.” In other words, As I lay down the law, keep
in mind that I have your best interests in mind. Yesterday Ezekiel talked
about sour grapes that set the children’s teeth on edge. This week Isaiah
talks about wild grapes. The vineyard is out of control, so God will take
down the fence and let the wild animals have at it. This was a much maligned
text after 9/11, and I suppose still could be today. Peggy Hahn recently
said to me of those traumatized by the events of the last few weeks, “The
God questions are very close to the surface.” A lady in my neighborhood was
telling me all her trees had fallen away from the house. “God was watching
over us.” Seems innocuous enough on the surface, but the theology of
privilege and preference bothers me. I didn’t say anything, but I wondered,
What is the corollary of this statement, “God was watching over us?”  What
does this say about the person whose house was destroyed? Was God not
watching over them? This is the God question I read in people who are
mucking out. Has God has withdrawn support? Removed the hedgeWhat have I
done to deserve this? Why, O Lord, have you forsaken me? ? Is this disaster
a sign of God’s displeasure with me?

Paul doesn’t think so, at least not in Philippians 3 (written from prison).
He sees his suffering as an opportunity to share in Christ’s sufferings.
Shades of St. Francis. 

10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of
his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11if somehow I may attain
the resurrection from the dead.

It probably won’t make you popular or get you on T.V. to preaching this kind
of stuff. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul doesn’t boast of his blessings, but of
his suffering and calamities:

23Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am
more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been
flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five
times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I
was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I
spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the
move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger
from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in
danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.
27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known
hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and
naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern
for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into
sin, and I do not inwardly burn?  30If I must boast, I will boast of the
things that show my weakness. 

In the very next chapter he will talk about his “thorn in the flesh” which
God refuses to take away because “…my power is made perfect in weakness.”
One must be so careful preaching this stuff to people who have been
disaffected. We preachers can’t tell people their suffering is a blessing.
That is cruel. But we can share our own sufferings. And we can tell the
world about One who suffered with us.

Matthew takes us back to the vineyard, with a fence, a winepress and a
watchtower. The tenants (Scribes and Pharisees?) beat the slaves he sends
(the prophets?) and then finally his son, whom they put to death. What do
you suppose the owner will do to the tenants? Put those wretches to a
miserable death and lease the vineyard out to new tenants. This text has
also been much maligned, from an anti-Semitic standpoint, sadly. I read it
rather as a warning to those of us who consider ourselves leaders of God’s
people. “…the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a
people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.” 

Are our faith communities bearing the fruits of the kingdom?

שלמ

Mike Rinehart

Michael Rinehart, bishop

The Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

12707 I-45 North Frwy, Suite 580

Houston, TX 77060-1239

281-873-5665

www.GulfCoastSynod.org <http://www.gulfcoastsynod.org/> 

cid:image001.jpg at 01C8E732.76E2DF60

Looking ahead: Yikes! Eight Sundays until Advent?!

Summary

October 5 – Proper 22

October 12  – Proper 23

October 19 – Proper 24

October 26 – Proper 25 or Reformation Sunday

November 2 – Proper 26 or All Saints’ Sunday

November 9 – Proper 27

November 16 – Proper 28

November 23 – Christ the King

OCTOBER TEXTS

October 5 – Proper 22

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 <http://www.textweek.com/pentateuch/ex20b.htm>  or
Isaiah 5:1-7 <http://www.textweek.com/prophets/isaiah5.htm> 
Psalm 19 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm19.htm>  or Psalm 80:7-15
<http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm80.htm> 
Philippians <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/phil3.htm>  3:4b-14
Matthew 21:33-46 <http://www.textweek.com/mtlk/matt21c.htm>  

October 12  – Proper 23

Exodus 32:1-14 <http://www.textweek.com/pentateuch/ex32a.htm>  or Isaiah
25:1-9 <http://www.textweek.com/prophets/isaiah25.htm> 
Psalm 106:1-6, <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm106.htm>  19-23 or
Psalm 23 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm23.htm> 
Philippians <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/phil4.htm>  4:1-9 – Rejoice in
the Lord always… I can do all things through Christ… I have learned the
secret of plenty and want

Matthew 22:1-14 <http://www.textweek.com/mtlk/matt22a.htm>  – The Parable of
the Wedding Banquet (v. 9: “Go therefore into the main streets, and invite
everyone…”)

October 19 – Proper 24

Exodus 33:12-23 <http://www.textweek.com/pentateuch/ex33.htm>  or Isaiah
45:1-7 <http://www.textweek.com/prophets/isaiah45.htm> 
Psalm 99 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm99.htm>  or Psalm 96:1-9,
(10-13) <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm96.htm> 
1 <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/1thess1.htm>  Thessalonians 1:1-10
Matthew 22:15-22  <http://www.textweek.com/mtlk/matt22b.htm> – Is it lawful
to pay taxes to Caesar? Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and
unto God the things that are God’s.

October 26 – Reformation Sunday (Oct. 31 – Many congregations celebrate on
the last Sunday of October)

Jeremiah <http://www.textweek.com/prophets/jer31c.htm>  31:31-34 – New
covenant.

Psalm 46 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm46.htm>  – God is our refuge
and strength.

Romans 3:19-28 <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/rom1_3.htm>  – The
righteousness of God disclosed apart from the law.

John 8:31-36 <http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/jn8b.htm>  – The truth will
set you free.

OR

October 26 – Proper 25 

Deuteronomy 34:1-12 <http://www.textweek.com/pentateuch/deut34.htm>  or
Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 <http://www.textweek.com/pentateuch/lev19.htm> 
Psalm 90:1-6, <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm90.htm>  13-17 or Psalm
1 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm1.htm> 
1 <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/1thess2a.htm>  Thessalonians 2:1-8
Matthew 22:34-46 <http://www.textweek.com/mtlk/matt22c.htm>  – The Great
Commandment

NOVEMBER TEXTS

Lots of apocalyptic stuff

November 2 – All Saints Sunday (November 1)

Revelation 7:9-17 <http://www.textweek.com/epistlesrevelation/rev7.htm> 
Psalm <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm34.htm>  34:1-10, 22
1 <http://www.textweek.com/epistlesrevelation/1john3a.htm>  John 3:1-3

Matthew 5:1-12 <http://www.textweek.com/mtlk/matt5a.htm>  – The Beatitudes

OR

November 2 – Proper 26 

Joshua 3:7-17 <http://www.textweek.com/history/josh3.htm>  or Micah 3:5-12
<http://www.textweek.com/prophets/micah3.htm> 
Psalm <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm107.htm>  107:1-7, 33-37 or
Psalm <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm43.htm>  43
1 <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/1thess2b.htm>  Thessalonians 2:9-13

Matthew 23:1-12 <http://www.textweek.com/mtlk/matt23.htm>  – The Scribes and
Pharisees: do what they say, not what they do, for they lay heavy burdens on
others’ shoulders they themselves are not willing to bear.

November 9 – Proper 27

Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 <http://www.textweek.com/history/josh24b.htm>  or
Wisdom of Solomon <http://www.textweek.com/apocrypha/wisdom6a.htm>  6:12-16
or Amos <http://www.textweek.com/prophets/amos5b.htm>  5:18-24
Psalm 78:1-7 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm78.htm>  or Wisdom of
Solomon <http://www.textweek.com/apocrypha/wisdom6b.htm>  6:17-20 or Psalm
70 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm70.htm> 
1 Thessalonians <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/1thess4.htm>  4:13-18
Matthew 25:1-13 <http://www.textweek.com/mtlk/matt25a.htm>  – The Parable of
the Ten Virgins or Bridesmaids
<http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm70.htm> 

November 16 – Proper 28

Judges 4:1-7 <http://www.textweek.com/history/judg4.htm>  or Zephaniah 1:7,
12-18 <http://www.textweek.com/prophets/zeph1.htm> 
Psalm 123 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm123.htm>  or Psalm 90:1-8,
(9-11), <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm90.htm>  12
1 <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/1thess5a.htm>  Thessalonians 5:1-11
Matthew 25:14-30  <http://www.textweek.com/mtlk/matt25b.htm> – The Parable
of the Talents

November 23 – Christ the King

 <http://www.textweek.com/prophets/ezek34.htm> Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm100.htm> Psalm 100 or
<http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm95.htm> Psalm 95:1-7a
 <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/eph1b.htm> Ephesians 1:15-23
 <http://www.textweek.com/mtlk/matt25c.htm> Matthew 25:31-46 – The Parable
of the Sheep and the Goats

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