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As of the time of my writing this, 2,217,005 people around the world, including 439,955 people in the United States, have died from the COVID-19 pandemic since it began a year ago.  For some, these are just numbers, data and figures from far away places that don’t really have any impact on us.  Yet, in recent weeks it seems, many in our community and congregations have begun to feel the immediate impact of this virus as it touched loved ones near and far.  As of this day, 16 people from our own Sussex County have succumbed to the ravages of the virus.  16 of our community members.  16 of God’s children.  As of this writing, I have been notified of at least 2 family members of people on our Parish who have died after battling the disease, and I have lost count of the numbers of immediate and extended family members of our parishioners that have fought or are continuing to fight the symptoms and illnesses that it brings. This battle is not just somewhere else in the world.  It is right here at home, too.         

            This week, as I reflected upon these events, I found myself once again rereading the account of John Wesley’s passing.  As the founder of the Methodist movement lay on his deathbed on March 2, 1791, at the age of 87, it is reported that his last words were, “The best of all, God is with us.”  If we really think about it, those are some pretty profound words, aren’t they?  In his last moments, with everything he had accomplished to help advance the Kingdom on earth, the thing that Mr. Wesley pronounced as being “best of all” was that “God is with us.”  GOD IS WITH US!

            Even in these moments of struggle with what is happening around us, God has never left us.  God has never forsaken us.  God is still with us.  Can you see that?  Can you see God at work in your life, even in the midst of pain, suffering, and even death?

            [God said] “Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (Gen 28:15, NRSV)

            [Jesus said] “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b, NRSV)

            We are in the divine presence 24/7, all year long.  God promised this to us.  Jesus reminded us of this.  We need only remind ourselves and open our eyes to see and our ears to hear.  “…the best of all, God is with us.”

                                                                                    Pastor Steve

I was recently reading an article about Nikhil Kamath, who at 34 years old has become India’s youngest billionaire.  This is due to his co-founding Zerudha, a trading brokerage firm, of which he remains chief investment officer.  However, this isn’t what I found most fascinating about him.  Instead, I found it interesting that, at the age of 14, he dropped out of high school to play chess full time.  Chess!  Of all things this obviously brilliant and gifted man could do, he chose chess.  For some, chess is a wonderfully mindful endeavor.  Yet, for most of us, chess can be a rather dull and difficult game.  So, why would Mr. Kamath dedicate so much time to it?  He was quoted as saying, “Chess teaches you how to work under a structure, in a system, but yet try and be creative within that system” (https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/12/zerodhas-nikhil-kamath-is-indias-youngest-new-billionaire.html). 

            All of us work within some sort of system, don’t we?  Whether it be work or school, governement or church, even the requirements of life during a pandemic, all require us to conform to a certain set of rules or regulations.  Yet, what I believe Mr. Kamath points out is that these rules or regulations don’t have to limit us.  Instead they should cause us to become more creative in our efforts to accomplish the tasks before us, shouldn’t they?  Just as during a chess match, we should always be thinking several steps ahead, preparing for a multitude of possibilities in response to what occurs around us.

            Such is what the church faces in the world today – trying to figure out what moves to make in response to the “game” before us.  While the tim-tested standards may have worked in some other time or some other match, we are now in a position to find new sets of moves unlike any have ever seen before.  How do we have certain programs?  How do we continue to do outreach?  How does the ministry of the church march on when we may feel like we are in a losing match?

            One thing about chess is certain, you can either forfeit the game or keep on pressing ahead.  Pressing ahead is often the most difficult thing, especially when you think there aren’t many options available to you.  Yet, we have to have faith in what we can accomplish, that there is also another creative move available to counteract that which is occurring.  This is our call as the church today.  This is our responsibility in fulfilling our mission. After all, we serve the Creator of the universe, don’t we?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.  ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NRSV).

                                                                                    Pastor Steve

This week our nation inaugurated it’s 46^th President.  One of the things that struck me was the scene of President Biden taking the oath of office.  There, in front of Chief Justice John Roberts, Biden rose his right hand and placed his left on the Bible.  And what a Bible it was!  Never have I seen such a sight used in proceedings like this.  Metal buckles, tattered leather cover, and of such large size in comparison with a typical household copy.  I couldn’t help but wonder where it came from.

            Some quick research found that the five inch thick text was a Biden family heirloom.  This 1893 edition had been used in nearly every family swearing-in ceremony, from Biden’s times as senator, to his two times taking the oath of the vice-presidency, as well as his son’s swearing-in as attorney general of Delaware.  According to Biden, each occasion was marked inside, keeping careful record of the historic scenes that it had been a part of.

            Most Presidents of the United States have taken the oath of office with their hand placed on the Bible.  It is a tradition of oath-taking that goes back hundreds, if not thousands, of years.  Yet, it is not a requirement of taking the office.  As a matter of fact, according to multiple sources that I read this week, the same paragraph of the Constitution that requires officials to take an oath, also declares that “no religious test” can be applied to the person or process.  Instead, it appears, what is supposed to be merely a secular commitment, many Presidents, including now President Biden, have transformed their oath into something much more.  Perhaps this is because of Hebrews 6:16, which reads, “Human beings, of course, swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all dispute” (NRSV). 

            While our country continues to be in such hotly-contested dispute amongst its own self, I pray that this oath, considering the way in which it was taken, is confirmation of a way forward for us all.  It is funny that during a December 2020 interview, Stephen Colbert asked the then President-elect, “Why is your Bible bigger than mine?  Do you have more Jesus in there?”  While we know that this is not true, we can pray that Jesus is more readily seen in our land than he has in quite some time.  Let us make that oath with one another, shall we?  Place your left hand on whichever special copy of the Bible you hold most dear, raise your right hand as high as possible to God, and commit once again to live by the Two Greatest Commandments that Jesus gave us – Loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind. And loving your neighbor as yourself.

                                                                                    Pastor Steve

One of my clergy colleagues posted this message to their social media account recently –

And Jesus said to the theologians, “And whom do you say that I am?” 

They replied, “You are the eschatological manifestation of the ground of our being, the ontological foundation of the context of our very selfhood revealed.”  And Jesus replied, “What?” 

Don’t make things so complicated folks.

            Many of us read the theologians response and probably said the same thing that Jesus did – “What?”  Yet, the irony is, this happens every day in churches all across America.  Believe it or not, church lingo does exist and it is rarely understood by those outside the walls of the local church (and, more often than not, it’s not even understood by those inside the walls, either!).  Yet, for some reason, we go on saying things that make it sound like we know what we are talking about, that make us sound like we are good Christians.

            What if being a Christian is so much more?  What if it’s more about the walk than the talk?  The Epistle of James declares, “But be doers of the word, not merely hearers who deceive themselves” (1:22, NRSV).  Being a true Christian requires that we take action in the world in which we live.  After all, we are to follow Christ’s example, right?  Sure, he talked about a lot of things, but if we really pay attention, he did a whole lot more walking with people than he ever did talking.

            I guess that’s why the hymn “They’ll Know We are Christians by our Love” stands out so much to me.  “We will walk with each other…we will work with each other…”*  Nowhere does it say, “we will talk with each other,” does it?  Sure, we have to have communication.  Sure, we need to guide and encourage one another.  But, the reality is, we have to do something, too!

            Our Friday Bible study group is currently looking at Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain as recorded in the Gospel of Luke.  There we find one of the most profound things I think Jesus ever said, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46, NRSV).  A stunning question, if we really think about it, and one we must be prepared to answer in the most simplest of terms, not complex church talk.  Until next time!     

                                                                                    Pastor Steve

* They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” words by and music by Peter Scholtes, Song #26997.  Used by Permission. CCLI License #1823503.   TFWS#2223.

            I write this on January 6^th, the day of Epiphany; the day we remember this event from Scripture –

            In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ² asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 

                ⁹ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹ On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11, NRSV)

            The wise men (or Magi) came with gifts for Jesus.  They came to pay their respects to the King of kings.  Yet, I have to wonder – is this an isolated occurrence?  Does it only happen once?  So often we have heard of the twelve days of Christmas – the time between Christmas and Epiphany where the gift-giving keeps on going (and this seems even more appropriate this year with the delay in many packages arriving at their destinations!). 

            However, the reality is that Epiphany is not just a single day, but an entire season.  From January 7^th through Shrove Tuesday (this year February 16^th), we mark the Season of Epiphany.  This season is to be a time of reflection, a time to seek out and find the places where Jesus appears, where he is manifested in our lives.  Like the wise men, we are called to be ever-seeking the King of kings, whereever he may be in our travels.  Upon finding him, we are called to bring him our gifts – our time, talents, and presence – that we may pay homage to him, too. 

            So, as this new year begins, let us all approach this season with eyes looking, ears listening, hearts seeking the presence of Christ.  You never know where you might find him.  You never know what he may look like.  You never know how far you may have to travel in life.  You never know, except that he is present and ready for you. Let us prepare ourselves for the journey ahead.  Let us prepare one another.  Let us prepare others.  For the King of kings is here and all honor and glory is due him.  Amen?  Amen!

                                                                        Pastor Steve

Sunday’s Scripture Matthew 5:43-48 NRSV . Here is the Lay Leader’s response to the sermon.

Jesus was disruptive. He was counter-culture, counter-tradition, counter-intuitive—in His ways and teachings.
Jesus told those who followed Him, “You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

When Pastor Steve began his sermon on Sunday, I let out a deep breath and sighed, knowing I could coast a little. I knew this sermon topic wasn’t what I needed. I mean, I don’t hate anyone. I don’t try to hurt anyone. I’m not out to get anyone. I’m not violent or abusive.

Then he got my attention. “Hate,” he said, “can be subtle.” The real definition of hate doesn’t involve violence or war or abuse. In it’s simplest context, to hate is to love less. Wait, what? So if I get offended and begin to hold back, that is hate? If someone hurts me and I withdraw (even slightly) from the relationship, that is hate?

I’m going to have to re-think my thinking! So what do I do? Maybe I do need this sermon! How do I turn my loveless attitudes around? Well, praise Jesus! When He prods the souls of His children, He always gives a solution. Jesus’ antidote? Prayer. The first step is to pray for those who offend, hurt and persecute.

Praying for others is a powerful means of cultivating love. I’ve learned it’s best to begin immediately—not to wait until I feel like it. Prayer ushers in the feels. Not the other way around. If I wait, first, for the good feelings, my soul will continue to bathe itself in loveless thoughts and attitudes until it grows into a furnace of bitterness and anger.

Let’s take a moment, take a deep breath, close our eyes, and ask God who we need to love more…Then pray for that person.

“Father God, I pray for ___ and ask that they would be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that they will walk in a manner worthy of You, Lord, pleasing You in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of You. Strengthen them with all power, according to Your glorious might, so they will attain steadfastness and patience and joyously give thanks to You, Father. Qualify ___ to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. Rescue us from the domain of darkness, and transfer us to the kingdom of Your beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Amen.” [Prayer adapted from Colossians 1:9-14]

Extra credit: pray this prayer every time this person comes to mind. Bonus round: pray this prayer for yourself too.

Stand back and prepare to be amazed.

Written by Tammy Cox