January 29, 2009
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
“We shall fight on the beaches...we shall fight in the fields and in the streets...we shall never surrender.”
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.”
When Time magazine published its list of the greatest political speeches in history, it wasn’t surprising to see the inaugural addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and John F. Kennedy among them. They were their first words to people eager to hear their visions for the future, and anxious to be lifted out of their current crises. At noon eastern today, 5 billion people around the world will watch Barack Obama become our 44th President, and he will have the same anticipated stage, the same captivated attention.
Years ago, Wang Chien-Chuang, president of The Journalist magazine, wrote that there are a few key ingredients to every successful political speech.
1. You need a good speechwriter.
2. The speech must be delivered before the backdrop of some great national crisis.
3. It has to include a substantial declaration of policies.
In tracking every great political speech, it seems that Mr. Chien-Chuang’s criteria is sound. And history will determine how President Obama’s first address to the nation will meet those standards.
In anticipation of today, I thought about another stirring inaugural address. Not widely considered to be a political speech, Jesus’ first sermon was his opening remarks to a people immersed in a politically-charged time:
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’
So, how does, Jesus’ speech rank, according to the same criteria?
1. First, you need a good speechwriter.
For his speechwriter, Jesus chose the prophet Isaiah, the most significant name to the Jewish people in the previous 600 years. The mere mention of his name would have conjured feelings of solemn reverence and obedience to God. He had spoken to them in times of national crisis and comforted them with a vision of hope for the future. For imagery, poetry, substance, and style, Jesus could not have selected a better wordsmith.
2. Second, the speech should be delivered before the backdrop of some great national crisis.
It was not World War II Britain, the Great Depression, or the Civil Rights Movement, but it was indeed a time of great turmoil. When Jesus stepped before the congregation in that synagogue, his was a world immersed in crisis. The Jewish people had become unwilling pawns in a global power game, ruled by the Babylonians, the Persians, the Seleucids, the Hasmoneans, the Greeks, and now, Rome. And worse then their political persecution, they were in spiritual crisis. Where was God in all of this? Where was the faithfulness of the God they believed in?
When Jesus began his public ministry, he did not come when it was most convenient and most comfortable. The world was at its most dangerous, and the situation was at its most precarious.
3. It has to include a substantial declaration of policies.
Great speeches not only have style, but they also have substance. Not only a broadly-stroked vision, but a summons to specifics. So what constituted Jesus’ plan for action?
The poor in the community will hear good news.
Those who are held captive will be released.
The blind will be able to see again.
The oppressed will be set free.
God’s favor will be proclaimed to all the people.
And then, in the boldest moment in the entire speech, Jesus sat down and delivered his FDR/JFK line:
“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Suddenly, Jesus’ address transcended mere political rhetoric and future-oriented optimism. He dared to claim that the promise of tomorrow was fulfilled in the present.
Whereas most figures can only make promises and hope to keep them, or share visions and hope to see them made real, Jesus boldly proclaimed that all these things had already happened! And, they have happened through Jesus’ mere presence among them. Before Jesus did any miracles, spoke any teaching, or called any disciples, Jesus said, “The Scripture has been fulfilled”. The work is as good as finished. You need not wait any longer, because God has arrived. Forget about the “New Deal.” Jesus spoke of a Done Deal.
Over the next four years, we will follow the actions of this new administration, gauging its results against its promises. We will see whether we are making economic progress in a time of financial collapse, and forging pockets of peace in a milieu of war. We will watch unemployment numbers, global financial markets, and people without health care.
Along the way, we remember as Christians that our primary evaluative standard lies not in a campaign pledg, but in the vision outlined by Jesus 2,000 years ago, of which we can expect to be made real today.
Will the poor hear good news?
Will those held captive find release?
Will those blinded by darkness rediscover their sight?
And will every oppressed person everywhere claim freedom?
May these questions constitute our prayers for this country and for people around the world. That today, indeed, they might be fulfilled in our hearing.
Grace, Peace, and Hope,
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org
WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY
Join us for worship as we continue our “Life’s Three Big Questions” series with a sermon focusing on who we are as a people of the Word. It will center on our common identity in Christ and anchored in the words of Scripture. The text is John 1:1-14, and if you missed picking up a Scripture bookmark, they are available in the church office.
LEADERSHIP EVENT
All people elected to serve on a committee for 2009 are invited to a special leadership gathering at the church on Saturday, January 24, from 9am – 12pm. It will be a time of organizing ourselves for the upcoming year and aligning our work around the new 2020 Vision Plan. Sarah Stevens, our Field Outreach Minister for the district, will also be sharing with us some insights about the nature of church leadership. Please let the office know of your attendance by Wednesday, January 21.
ST. PAUL’S IN THE NEWS
In case you missed the nice article about the church in last Monday’s edition of the Cherokee Chronicle, you can follow this link: http://www.chronicletimes.com/story/1492683.html.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Calm Delight of Contentment
January 28, 2009
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, stop for a moment and do this little exercise. Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and say this:
“Thank you, Lord.”
Now finish the sentence: “Thank you Lord, for….”
After getting the obligatory phrases out of the way (“...for my family, ...for my friends, ...for my health, etc.”), then go deeper. What are you really thankful for? And how did God make that happen?
Eventually, you’ll hear other voices muscling their way in.
The state of true contentment.
Since my household is full of Harry Potter maniacs, I can’t help but remember the dialogue in the first book between young Harry and wise Dumbledore, after Harry discovered the Mirror of Erised. This magical mirror reflected back on the observer that which they most deeply and most desperately desired in their lives. For Harry, it was the image of his long-deceased parents. For friend Ron, it was an image of his holding the house trophy. And Dumbledore? We never learn for sure, but he did say this:
“The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror; that is, he would be able to see himself exactly as he is.”
What would you see if such a mirror were real? Yourself as you are, or as you long to be?
There’s no clear word for contentment in the original New Testament Greek. The closest we get is the word chara (“kara”), most often translated as “joy.” It appears over 170 times throughout the Scriptures, and Jesus used it nearly twenty times in his public teaching. Paul used it two dozen times throughout his letters to the churches, and it’s used in this passage from James:
My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
Now consider that the word chara not only means “joy,” but can accurately be expressed as “calm delight.” And when you couple that with its sister word charis – which means grace – it is clear that this contented, calm delight is not something we manufacture from within us, or conjure by our own efforts.
Rather, true biblical contentment is a quiet but confident gratitude that none of your worries about tomorrow can overcome what God has given to you today. It is an unwavering realization that no matter what happens in your life, whatever ailments, trials, or sufferings you may go through, God is always there, giving you exactly what you need.
For which the only response is, “Thank you, Lord.”
Incidentally, chara is also related to the word eucharist, our formal word for Holy Communion. Through the sacrament we enter that state of “calm delight,” giving thanks for God’s presence and provision, even during our toughest troubles. And that’s why the words that we share from our hymnal before communion are called “The Great Thanksgiving.”
No matter what you are going through today, remember that even your most difficult moments are fleeting, compared to the everlasting reach of God’s love for you. And in the words of the wonderful book The Art of Divine Contentment by 17th century Christian author Thomas Watson:
Hence I gather, that outward troubles cannot hinder this blessed contentment; it is a spiritual thing, and arises from spiritual grounds, namely, the apprehension of God’s love. When there is a tempest without, there may be music within. A bee may sting through the skin, but it cannot sting to the heart: outward afflictions cannot sting to a Christian’s heart, where contentment lies. Thieves may plunder us of our money and plate, but not of this pearl of contentment, unless we are willing to part with it; for it is locked up in the cabinet of the heart. The soul which is possessed of this rich treasure of contentment, is like Noah in the ark, who can sing in the midst of a deluge.
So, repeat after me. Thank you, Lord…… Thank you, Lord…….
Thank you, Lord.
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org
WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY
Join us as we continue our series on “Life’s Three Big Questions” with a sermon titled “Who are We? A People of Grace.” Based on John 8:1-11. Hear the amazing story of a woman who experiences the grace and forgiveness of Christ. And at the end of the service, we will join in Holy Communion and give great thanks to God. .
YOUTH SKI TRIP FUNDRAISER
The youth group will be going on a ski trip on Saturday, February 21. To defray costs, they will be selling cinnamon rolls this Sunday after church for a free will donation. If you would like to help, contact Sue Parker or Andrea Cook.
BENEFIT EVENT
Careage Hills is sponsoring a benefit dinner of taverns, hot dogs, chips, and baked beans for Dale “Junior” Bakker, in Mercy Hospital following an accident at home. The proceeds will be used to defray medical expenses. It takes place February 15, from 11am-2pm in the Community Center. An account has been set up at Cherokee State Bank to accept donations.
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, stop for a moment and do this little exercise. Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and say this:
“Thank you, Lord.”
Now finish the sentence: “Thank you Lord, for….”
After getting the obligatory phrases out of the way (“...for my family, ...for my friends, ...for my health, etc.”), then go deeper. What are you really thankful for? And how did God make that happen?
Eventually, you’ll hear other voices muscling their way in.
- “But what about my health?”
- “But I’m in financial trouble.”
- “But my family is a mess.”
- “But if I only had (fill in the blank), life would be so much better.”
The state of true contentment.
Since my household is full of Harry Potter maniacs, I can’t help but remember the dialogue in the first book between young Harry and wise Dumbledore, after Harry discovered the Mirror of Erised. This magical mirror reflected back on the observer that which they most deeply and most desperately desired in their lives. For Harry, it was the image of his long-deceased parents. For friend Ron, it was an image of his holding the house trophy. And Dumbledore? We never learn for sure, but he did say this:
“The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror; that is, he would be able to see himself exactly as he is.”
What would you see if such a mirror were real? Yourself as you are, or as you long to be?
There’s no clear word for contentment in the original New Testament Greek. The closest we get is the word chara (“kara”), most often translated as “joy.” It appears over 170 times throughout the Scriptures, and Jesus used it nearly twenty times in his public teaching. Paul used it two dozen times throughout his letters to the churches, and it’s used in this passage from James:
My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
Now consider that the word chara not only means “joy,” but can accurately be expressed as “calm delight.” And when you couple that with its sister word charis – which means grace – it is clear that this contented, calm delight is not something we manufacture from within us, or conjure by our own efforts.
Rather, true biblical contentment is a quiet but confident gratitude that none of your worries about tomorrow can overcome what God has given to you today. It is an unwavering realization that no matter what happens in your life, whatever ailments, trials, or sufferings you may go through, God is always there, giving you exactly what you need.
For which the only response is, “Thank you, Lord.”
Incidentally, chara is also related to the word eucharist, our formal word for Holy Communion. Through the sacrament we enter that state of “calm delight,” giving thanks for God’s presence and provision, even during our toughest troubles. And that’s why the words that we share from our hymnal before communion are called “The Great Thanksgiving.”
No matter what you are going through today, remember that even your most difficult moments are fleeting, compared to the everlasting reach of God’s love for you. And in the words of the wonderful book The Art of Divine Contentment by 17th century Christian author Thomas Watson:
Hence I gather, that outward troubles cannot hinder this blessed contentment; it is a spiritual thing, and arises from spiritual grounds, namely, the apprehension of God’s love. When there is a tempest without, there may be music within. A bee may sting through the skin, but it cannot sting to the heart: outward afflictions cannot sting to a Christian’s heart, where contentment lies. Thieves may plunder us of our money and plate, but not of this pearl of contentment, unless we are willing to part with it; for it is locked up in the cabinet of the heart. The soul which is possessed of this rich treasure of contentment, is like Noah in the ark, who can sing in the midst of a deluge.
So, repeat after me. Thank you, Lord…… Thank you, Lord…….
Thank you, Lord.
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org
WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY
Join us as we continue our series on “Life’s Three Big Questions” with a sermon titled “Who are We? A People of Grace.” Based on John 8:1-11. Hear the amazing story of a woman who experiences the grace and forgiveness of Christ. And at the end of the service, we will join in Holy Communion and give great thanks to God. .
YOUTH SKI TRIP FUNDRAISER
The youth group will be going on a ski trip on Saturday, February 21. To defray costs, they will be selling cinnamon rolls this Sunday after church for a free will donation. If you would like to help, contact Sue Parker or Andrea Cook.
BENEFIT EVENT
Careage Hills is sponsoring a benefit dinner of taverns, hot dogs, chips, and baked beans for Dale “Junior” Bakker, in Mercy Hospital following an accident at home. The proceeds will be used to defray medical expenses. It takes place February 15, from 11am-2pm in the Community Center. An account has been set up at Cherokee State Bank to accept donations.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
An Inaugural Word
January 20, 2009
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
“We shall fight on the beaches...we shall fight in the fields and in the streets...we shall never surrender.”
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.”
When Time magazine published its list of the greatest political speeches in history, it wasn’t surprising to see the inaugural addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and John F. Kennedy among them. They were their first words to people eager to hear their visions for the future, and anxious to be lifted out of their current crises. At noon eastern today, 5 billion people around the world will watch Barack Obama become our 44th President, and he will have the same anticipated stage, the same captivated attention.
Years ago, Wang Chien-Chuang, president of The Journalist magazine, wrote that there are a few key ingredients to every successful political speech.
1. You need a good speechwriter.
2. The speech must be delivered before the backdrop of some great national crisis.
3. It has to include a substantial declaration of policies.
In tracking every great political speech, it seems that Mr. Chien-Chuang’s criteria is sound. And history will determine how President Obama’s first address to the nation will meet those standards.
In anticipation of today, I thought about another stirring inaugural address. Not widely considered to be a political speech, Jesus’ first sermon was his opening remarks to a people immersed in a politically-charged time:
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’
So, how does, Jesus’ speech rank, according to the same criteria?
1. First, you need a good speechwriter.
For his speechwriter, Jesus chose the prophet Isaiah, the most significant name to the Jewish people in the previous 600 years. The mere mention of his name would have conjured feelings of solemn reverence and obedience to God. He had spoken to them in times of national crisis and comforted them with a vision of hope for the future. For imagery, poetry, substance, and style, Jesus could not have selected a better wordsmith.
2. Second, the speech should be delivered before the backdrop of some great national crisis.
It was not World War II Britain, the Great Depression, or the Civil Rights Movement, but it was indeed a time of great turmoil. When Jesus stepped before the congregation in that synagogue, his was a world immersed in crisis. The Jewish people had become unwilling pawns in a global power game, ruled by the Babylonians, the Persians, the Seleucids, the Hasmoneans, the Greeks, and now, Rome. And worse then their political persecution, they were in spiritual crisis. Where was God in all of this? Where was the faithfulness of the God they believed in?
When Jesus began his public ministry, he did not come when it was most convenient and most comfortable. The world was at its most dangerous, and the situation was at its most precarious.
3. It has to include a substantial declaration of policies.
Great speeches not only have style, but they also have substance. Not only a broadly-stroked vision, but a summons to specifics. So what constituted Jesus’ plan for action?
The poor in the community will hear good news.
Those who are held captive will be released.
The blind will be able to see again.
The oppressed will be set free.
God’s favor will be proclaimed to all the people.
And then, in the boldest moment in the entire speech, Jesus sat down and delivered his FDR/JFK line:
“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Suddenly, Jesus’ address transcended mere political rhetoric and future-oriented optimism. He dared to claim that the promise of tomorrow was fulfilled in the present.
Whereas most figures can only make promises and hope to keep them, or share visions and hope to see them made real, Jesus boldly proclaimed that all these things had already happened! And, they have happened through Jesus’ mere presence among them. Before Jesus did any miracles, spoke any teaching, or called any disciples, Jesus said, “The Scripture has been fulfilled”. The work is as good as finished. You need not wait any longer, because God has arrived. Forget about the “New Deal.” Jesus spoke of a Done Deal.
Over the next four years, we will follow the actions of this new administration, gauging its results against its promises. We will see whether we are making economic progress in a time of financial collapse, and forging pockets of peace in a milieu of war. We will watch unemployment numbers, global financial markets, and people without health care.
Along the way, we remember as Christians that our primary evaluative standard lies not in a campaign pledg, but in the vision outlined by Jesus 2,000 years ago, of which we can expect to be made real today.
Will the poor hear good news?
Will those held captive find release?
Will those blinded by darkness rediscover their sight?
And will every oppressed person everywhere claim freedom?
May these questions constitute our prayers for this country and for people around the world. That today, indeed, they might be fulfilled in our hearing.
Grace, Peace, and Hope,
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org
WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY
Join us for worship as we continue our “Life’s Three Big Questions” series with a sermon focusing on who we are as a people of the Word. It will center on our common identity in Christ and anchored in the words of Scripture. The text is John 1:1-14, and if you missed picking up a Scripture bookmark, they are available in the church office.
LEADERSHIP EVENT
All people elected to serve on a committee for 2009 are invited to a special leadership gathering at the church on Saturday, January 24, from 9am – 12pm. It will be a time of organizing ourselves for the upcoming year and aligning our work around the new 2020 Vision Plan. Sarah Stevens, our Field Outreach Minister for the district, will also be sharing with us some insights about the nature of church leadership. Please let the office know of your attendance by Wednesday, January 21.
ST. PAUL’S IN THE NEWS
In case you missed the nice article about the church in last Monday’s edition of the Cherokee Chronicle, you can follow this link: http://www.chronicletimes.com/story/1492683.html.
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
“We shall fight on the beaches...we shall fight in the fields and in the streets...we shall never surrender.”
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.”
When Time magazine published its list of the greatest political speeches in history, it wasn’t surprising to see the inaugural addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and John F. Kennedy among them. They were their first words to people eager to hear their visions for the future, and anxious to be lifted out of their current crises. At noon eastern today, 5 billion people around the world will watch Barack Obama become our 44th President, and he will have the same anticipated stage, the same captivated attention.
Years ago, Wang Chien-Chuang, president of The Journalist magazine, wrote that there are a few key ingredients to every successful political speech.
1. You need a good speechwriter.
2. The speech must be delivered before the backdrop of some great national crisis.
3. It has to include a substantial declaration of policies.
In tracking every great political speech, it seems that Mr. Chien-Chuang’s criteria is sound. And history will determine how President Obama’s first address to the nation will meet those standards.
In anticipation of today, I thought about another stirring inaugural address. Not widely considered to be a political speech, Jesus’ first sermon was his opening remarks to a people immersed in a politically-charged time:
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’
So, how does, Jesus’ speech rank, according to the same criteria?
1. First, you need a good speechwriter.
For his speechwriter, Jesus chose the prophet Isaiah, the most significant name to the Jewish people in the previous 600 years. The mere mention of his name would have conjured feelings of solemn reverence and obedience to God. He had spoken to them in times of national crisis and comforted them with a vision of hope for the future. For imagery, poetry, substance, and style, Jesus could not have selected a better wordsmith.
2. Second, the speech should be delivered before the backdrop of some great national crisis.
It was not World War II Britain, the Great Depression, or the Civil Rights Movement, but it was indeed a time of great turmoil. When Jesus stepped before the congregation in that synagogue, his was a world immersed in crisis. The Jewish people had become unwilling pawns in a global power game, ruled by the Babylonians, the Persians, the Seleucids, the Hasmoneans, the Greeks, and now, Rome. And worse then their political persecution, they were in spiritual crisis. Where was God in all of this? Where was the faithfulness of the God they believed in?
When Jesus began his public ministry, he did not come when it was most convenient and most comfortable. The world was at its most dangerous, and the situation was at its most precarious.
3. It has to include a substantial declaration of policies.
Great speeches not only have style, but they also have substance. Not only a broadly-stroked vision, but a summons to specifics. So what constituted Jesus’ plan for action?
The poor in the community will hear good news.
Those who are held captive will be released.
The blind will be able to see again.
The oppressed will be set free.
God’s favor will be proclaimed to all the people.
And then, in the boldest moment in the entire speech, Jesus sat down and delivered his FDR/JFK line:
“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Suddenly, Jesus’ address transcended mere political rhetoric and future-oriented optimism. He dared to claim that the promise of tomorrow was fulfilled in the present.
Whereas most figures can only make promises and hope to keep them, or share visions and hope to see them made real, Jesus boldly proclaimed that all these things had already happened! And, they have happened through Jesus’ mere presence among them. Before Jesus did any miracles, spoke any teaching, or called any disciples, Jesus said, “The Scripture has been fulfilled”. The work is as good as finished. You need not wait any longer, because God has arrived. Forget about the “New Deal.” Jesus spoke of a Done Deal.
Over the next four years, we will follow the actions of this new administration, gauging its results against its promises. We will see whether we are making economic progress in a time of financial collapse, and forging pockets of peace in a milieu of war. We will watch unemployment numbers, global financial markets, and people without health care.
Along the way, we remember as Christians that our primary evaluative standard lies not in a campaign pledg, but in the vision outlined by Jesus 2,000 years ago, of which we can expect to be made real today.
Will the poor hear good news?
Will those held captive find release?
Will those blinded by darkness rediscover their sight?
And will every oppressed person everywhere claim freedom?
May these questions constitute our prayers for this country and for people around the world. That today, indeed, they might be fulfilled in our hearing.
Grace, Peace, and Hope,
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org
WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY
Join us for worship as we continue our “Life’s Three Big Questions” series with a sermon focusing on who we are as a people of the Word. It will center on our common identity in Christ and anchored in the words of Scripture. The text is John 1:1-14, and if you missed picking up a Scripture bookmark, they are available in the church office.
LEADERSHIP EVENT
All people elected to serve on a committee for 2009 are invited to a special leadership gathering at the church on Saturday, January 24, from 9am – 12pm. It will be a time of organizing ourselves for the upcoming year and aligning our work around the new 2020 Vision Plan. Sarah Stevens, our Field Outreach Minister for the district, will also be sharing with us some insights about the nature of church leadership. Please let the office know of your attendance by Wednesday, January 21.
ST. PAUL’S IN THE NEWS
In case you missed the nice article about the church in last Monday’s edition of the Cherokee Chronicle, you can follow this link: http://www.chronicletimes.com/story/1492683.html.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
I Guess It Wasn't Such a Bad Answer After All
January 13, 2009
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
In 1994, I decided that a career in medicine was not for me.
The realization began in the spring of my senior year of college. In order to graduate with a degree in Biology/Pre-med, I had to complete both the written and oral portions of my comprehensive examinations. The oral exam took place in the biology lab, with four of my professors peppering me with questions to test my aptitude in the field.
I was doomed from the first question. One of them asked me, “What are the two main categories of animal life?” Now anybody who has ever taken Introduction to Biology, even in high school, could tell you that the fundamental distinction is between the prokaryotes (one-celled organisms that have no nucleus, like bacteria) and eukaryotes (multi-celled animals that have a nucleus, DNA, and cell membranes.) But not this biology major.
After what seemed like an eternal amount of silent puzzling, I finally said, “I think the two main kinds of animals are those with a soul and those without a soul.”
I have never since seen such deflated, dejected looks as those that were on the faces of my professors at that moment. One was looking down, shaking his head. Another just stared at me, blinkless, wondering if he had heard me correctly. Still another seemed to mutter “we are failures as teachers” under his breath. It’s still a wonder that they even passed me.
There’s no defending my response from a biological perspective. But from a theological point of view, my answer does seem to tap into the sense of awe, mystery, and reverence echoed by the Psalmist:
For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. (Psalm 139:14)
Certainly, the Psalmist could not have known about the amazing complexities of cellular processes and DNA. But he did have a keen awareness of how miraculous life is, and who made it that way.
Reading Psalm 139 can be an effective antidote to those moments when, in forgetting who we really are, we are prone to bouts of hopelessness, loneliness, and gloom. I am reminded of the beautiful, haunting poem called “Who am I?” penned by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German Lutheran pastor martyred by the Nazi regime. While in a jail cell awaiting his execution, he asked that which we have all asked at one point in our lives. I’ve included the whole poem here; making it to the end and discovering his conclusion is well worth the read:
Who am I? They often tell me
I stepped from my cell’s confinement
Calmly, cheerfully, firmly,
Like a squire from his country-house.
Who am I? They often tell me
I used to speak to my warders
Freely and friendly and clearly,
As though it were mine to command.
Who am I? They also tell me
I bore the days of misfortune
Equally, smilingly, proudly,
Like one accustomed to win.
Am I then really all that which other men tell of?
Or am I only what I myself know of myself?
Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,
Struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat,
Yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds,
Thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,
Tossing in expectation of great events,
Powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,
Weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,
Faint, and ready to say farewell to it all?
Who am I? This or the other?
Am I one person today and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
And before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army,
Fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?
Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, Thou knowest, 0 God, I am Thine!
Here’s the honest truth: you are more than just a collection of biochemical reactions, or micro-cellular processes. You are the living, breathing, embodiment of God’s image on earth, a uniquely fashioned creature crafted by a loving Creator, “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
And don’t you forget it.
Join us this Sunday as we continue in our “Life’s Three Big Questions” series with a sermon titled, “Who Am I? Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.” If you have ever wondered who you really are, or need a friendly reminder of to Whom you belong, don’t miss this important service. And, as always, this would be a great opportunity to invite an unchurched friend or loved one with you to church.
Grace and Peace,
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org
Psalm 139:13-18
13 For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.
17 How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 I try to count them—they are more than the sand; I come to the end—I am still with you.
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
In 1994, I decided that a career in medicine was not for me.
The realization began in the spring of my senior year of college. In order to graduate with a degree in Biology/Pre-med, I had to complete both the written and oral portions of my comprehensive examinations. The oral exam took place in the biology lab, with four of my professors peppering me with questions to test my aptitude in the field.
I was doomed from the first question. One of them asked me, “What are the two main categories of animal life?” Now anybody who has ever taken Introduction to Biology, even in high school, could tell you that the fundamental distinction is between the prokaryotes (one-celled organisms that have no nucleus, like bacteria) and eukaryotes (multi-celled animals that have a nucleus, DNA, and cell membranes.) But not this biology major.
After what seemed like an eternal amount of silent puzzling, I finally said, “I think the two main kinds of animals are those with a soul and those without a soul.”
I have never since seen such deflated, dejected looks as those that were on the faces of my professors at that moment. One was looking down, shaking his head. Another just stared at me, blinkless, wondering if he had heard me correctly. Still another seemed to mutter “we are failures as teachers” under his breath. It’s still a wonder that they even passed me.
There’s no defending my response from a biological perspective. But from a theological point of view, my answer does seem to tap into the sense of awe, mystery, and reverence echoed by the Psalmist:
For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. (Psalm 139:14)
Certainly, the Psalmist could not have known about the amazing complexities of cellular processes and DNA. But he did have a keen awareness of how miraculous life is, and who made it that way.
Reading Psalm 139 can be an effective antidote to those moments when, in forgetting who we really are, we are prone to bouts of hopelessness, loneliness, and gloom. I am reminded of the beautiful, haunting poem called “Who am I?” penned by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German Lutheran pastor martyred by the Nazi regime. While in a jail cell awaiting his execution, he asked that which we have all asked at one point in our lives. I’ve included the whole poem here; making it to the end and discovering his conclusion is well worth the read:
Who am I? They often tell me
I stepped from my cell’s confinement
Calmly, cheerfully, firmly,
Like a squire from his country-house.
Who am I? They often tell me
I used to speak to my warders
Freely and friendly and clearly,
As though it were mine to command.
Who am I? They also tell me
I bore the days of misfortune
Equally, smilingly, proudly,
Like one accustomed to win.
Am I then really all that which other men tell of?
Or am I only what I myself know of myself?
Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,
Struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat,
Yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds,
Thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,
Tossing in expectation of great events,
Powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,
Weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,
Faint, and ready to say farewell to it all?
Who am I? This or the other?
Am I one person today and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
And before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army,
Fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?
Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, Thou knowest, 0 God, I am Thine!
Here’s the honest truth: you are more than just a collection of biochemical reactions, or micro-cellular processes. You are the living, breathing, embodiment of God’s image on earth, a uniquely fashioned creature crafted by a loving Creator, “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
And don’t you forget it.
Join us this Sunday as we continue in our “Life’s Three Big Questions” series with a sermon titled, “Who Am I? Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.” If you have ever wondered who you really are, or need a friendly reminder of to Whom you belong, don’t miss this important service. And, as always, this would be a great opportunity to invite an unchurched friend or loved one with you to church.
Grace and Peace,
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org
Psalm 139:13-18
13 For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.
17 How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 I try to count them—they are more than the sand; I come to the end—I am still with you.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
How It All Began
January 7, 2009
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
Last week, while looking through my old set of childhood encyclopedias, our 7-year old Grace looked up and said, “Umm…I don’t get it.”
That’s always a signal to me that there are some furious wheels turning in her curious second-grade mind, and that I best brace myself for a doozy of a question for which there are likely to be no easy answers. She was looking through a volume on the world and the universe, at a particular article called “How It All Began.”
When she read about the Big Bang and the origin of the universe, she said, “I thought God created the world. What’s this about?”
“Good question,” I said. I then explained that science and religion were not mutually incompatible, and how the book of Genesis answers “Who” and “Why” questions about the beginning of the world, which science cannot touch. Science attempts to answer the complex process questions that were of little interest to Ancient Near Eastern cultures long ago. My long, drawn-out explanations were as hefty and and as comprehensive as anyone else with a B.S. in Biology and an M.Div from a seminary could muster. But as far as addressing the questions of a highly inquisitive second-grader? I was doomed from the moment I opened my mouth.
At the end she looked at me with glazed eyes and said – even more softly this time, “I don’t get it.”
Last July, children’s book publisher Dorling Kindersley surveyed 1,500 parents and children ages eight to twelve for what they felt were the toughest questions that today’s children ask. Not surprisingly, most of the top twenty focus on God, life after death, and the creation of the world.
Curious about the list? Here are the top twenty questions that parents said were “unanswerable.”
1. Does God exist?
2. Has God got a beard?
3. Is there life after death?
4. If God made us who made God?
5. What does God look like?
6. Why is the world here?
7. Who created God?
8. Why are people bad to each other?
9. Why are we here? Am I real or is this just a dream?
10. If God is everywhere why do we have to go to church to see him?
11. Why can't we ring God up?
12. Why does Easter change its dates each year?
13. Why is God all around us?
14. Why is there a world?
15. Why is there so much war in the world?
16. Why do we have wars?
17. Why do I believe in one God while my Hindu friend believes in lots and is my God the same as my Jewish friends?
18. Do you know why Jesus wept?
19. Who made the universe?
20. Does God have a mother?
If we’re honest, there are many questions on this list that we struggle with regularly. This Sunday, we are starting a brand new series called “Life’s Three Big Questions,” in which each of the sermons will address one of these three questions:
Who is God?
Who am I?
Who are we together?
This Sunday, with lectionary scriptures centering on the creation story in Genesis 1, we’ll get right to this matter about a God who is still in the business of creating life out of death and order out of chaos. The sermon is titled “Who is God? The One Who Is Still Creating,” and will conclude with Holy Communion and an opportunity to join with Christians around the world in remembering our baptism and reaffirming our baptismal vows. This would be an excellent series to invite an unchurched friend or loved one who is asking tough questions about tough things.
Together, let’s look to God for answers!
Grace and Peace,
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org
Genesis 1:1-5
1 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth,
2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.
3 Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.
4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.
5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
SCRIPTURE BOOKMARKS
Follow along in this new series with a bookmark of scripture readings that you can read every day. They correspond with the upcoming sermon and will prepare your heart and mind for worship. If you were not in church to pick one up last Sunday, they are available in the church office.
LEADERSHIP EVENT
All people elected to serve on a committee for 2009 are invited to a special leadership gathering at the church on Saturday, January 24, from 9am – 12pm. It will be a time of organizing ourselves for the upcoming year and aligning our work around the new 2020 Vision Plan. Sarah Stevens, our Field Outreach Minister for the district, will also be sharing with us some insights about the nature of church leadership. Please let the office know of your attendance by Wednesday, January 21.
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
Last week, while looking through my old set of childhood encyclopedias, our 7-year old Grace looked up and said, “Umm…I don’t get it.”
That’s always a signal to me that there are some furious wheels turning in her curious second-grade mind, and that I best brace myself for a doozy of a question for which there are likely to be no easy answers. She was looking through a volume on the world and the universe, at a particular article called “How It All Began.”
When she read about the Big Bang and the origin of the universe, she said, “I thought God created the world. What’s this about?”
“Good question,” I said. I then explained that science and religion were not mutually incompatible, and how the book of Genesis answers “Who” and “Why” questions about the beginning of the world, which science cannot touch. Science attempts to answer the complex process questions that were of little interest to Ancient Near Eastern cultures long ago. My long, drawn-out explanations were as hefty and and as comprehensive as anyone else with a B.S. in Biology and an M.Div from a seminary could muster. But as far as addressing the questions of a highly inquisitive second-grader? I was doomed from the moment I opened my mouth.
At the end she looked at me with glazed eyes and said – even more softly this time, “I don’t get it.”
Last July, children’s book publisher Dorling Kindersley surveyed 1,500 parents and children ages eight to twelve for what they felt were the toughest questions that today’s children ask. Not surprisingly, most of the top twenty focus on God, life after death, and the creation of the world.
Curious about the list? Here are the top twenty questions that parents said were “unanswerable.”
1. Does God exist?
2. Has God got a beard?
3. Is there life after death?
4. If God made us who made God?
5. What does God look like?
6. Why is the world here?
7. Who created God?
8. Why are people bad to each other?
9. Why are we here? Am I real or is this just a dream?
10. If God is everywhere why do we have to go to church to see him?
11. Why can't we ring God up?
12. Why does Easter change its dates each year?
13. Why is God all around us?
14. Why is there a world?
15. Why is there so much war in the world?
16. Why do we have wars?
17. Why do I believe in one God while my Hindu friend believes in lots and is my God the same as my Jewish friends?
18. Do you know why Jesus wept?
19. Who made the universe?
20. Does God have a mother?
If we’re honest, there are many questions on this list that we struggle with regularly. This Sunday, we are starting a brand new series called “Life’s Three Big Questions,” in which each of the sermons will address one of these three questions:
Who is God?
Who am I?
Who are we together?
This Sunday, with lectionary scriptures centering on the creation story in Genesis 1, we’ll get right to this matter about a God who is still in the business of creating life out of death and order out of chaos. The sermon is titled “Who is God? The One Who Is Still Creating,” and will conclude with Holy Communion and an opportunity to join with Christians around the world in remembering our baptism and reaffirming our baptismal vows. This would be an excellent series to invite an unchurched friend or loved one who is asking tough questions about tough things.
Together, let’s look to God for answers!
Grace and Peace,
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org
Genesis 1:1-5
1 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth,
2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.
3 Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.
4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.
5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
SCRIPTURE BOOKMARKS
Follow along in this new series with a bookmark of scripture readings that you can read every day. They correspond with the upcoming sermon and will prepare your heart and mind for worship. If you were not in church to pick one up last Sunday, they are available in the church office.
LEADERSHIP EVENT
All people elected to serve on a committee for 2009 are invited to a special leadership gathering at the church on Saturday, January 24, from 9am – 12pm. It will be a time of organizing ourselves for the upcoming year and aligning our work around the new 2020 Vision Plan. Sarah Stevens, our Field Outreach Minister for the district, will also be sharing with us some insights about the nature of church leadership. Please let the office know of your attendance by Wednesday, January 21.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)