Jockeying And Jostling At The Table Of Prestige
Children's sermon
Illustration
Preaching
Sermon
Worship
Object:
In this week's lectionary gospel passage from Luke, Jesus offers some strong comments on the importance of humility as opposed to pride. The setting is a meal at the home of a Pharisee, and Jesus is dismayed by the conduct of some of the dinner guests, who are competing for the places of honor at the table. It's easy to imagine similar (if slightly more muted) behavior at a dinner party of the power elite in our day, where it's important to be recognized as a "player" -- as someone of importance who is worthy of attention and respect. But Jesus tells us that these priorities are horribly misplaced, and instead we ought to "sit down at the lowest place" and even (gasp!) invite to the meal not the movers and shakers but instead "the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind." In this installment of The Immediate Word, team member Dean Feldmeyer notes that this message is definitely at odds with the sharp elbows we develop in our status-obsessed culture, as we jockey and jostle to claim credit and avoid blame. We tend to worry more about how we look than what we do -- but Dean points out that in our gospel text Jesus offers a very different vision... and notes that while it might not play in Peoria, it is part of our calling as Christians.
Team member George Reed shares some additional thoughts on the Hebrews text and its admonition for us to find a healthy balance in our faith between spirituality and action. George points out that these are the twin poles supporting our faith, and they are so intertwined that we must (as our text tells us) "not neglect to do good."
Jockeying and Jostling at the Table of Prestige
by Dean Feldmeyer
Luke 14:1, 7-14
THE WORLD
In New York City, a group of American Muslims want to build a mosque and cultural center on land they have owned for years. The land, however, is only two city blocks from the former site of the World Trade Center destroyed on September 11, 2001 by Muslim extremists, killing 2,518 Americans and 234 foreign nationals.
The site is considered "hallowed" by many, and some think Muslims should not be allowed to build there. Others believe our constitutionally protected freedom of religion gives them the right to build, but that it would be insensitive to build a mosque only two blocks away from the site we have come to know as "ground zero."
Whether or not they should be allowed to build at that location -- and whether or not it is insensitive to build there -- has become a source of much debate both in New York and across the country, especially among politicians and media pundits, many of whom are jockeying and jostling to land on the most popular and/or politically profitable side of the argument.
Questions about how close is too close and how far away is far enough have been lost in the shouting. What exactly this mosque and cultural center might accomplish in the name of religious tolerance and understanding has not even been explored.
For how many people is this an issue of sensitivity, and for how many is it an issue of political posturing for the sake of status and power? How many of those whose voices are so strident in the debate are simply pushing buttons and pulling strings to gain some political advantage or increase their market share?
Now, in Florence, Kentucky (just south of Cincinnati), another group of American Muslims are seeking to build a mosque so they can move from the rented property they have used for decades. The proposal is being met with harsh opposition even though there is no "hallowed ground" nearby -- just a shopping mall.
In Pakistan, flooding has killed thousands and displaced over 2 million people, while countries and militant groups jockey and jostle to make sure their names are associated with any help that arrives. The question of who will get the credit for helping is being asked more than who will get aid (and when and how) to the desperate victims.†Will it be the USA or the Pakistani government, or will the Taliban step in and convince the people that their government doesn't care about them and Americans are just trying to buy their approval with meager handouts?
Meanwhile, here in the USA the oil has stopped leaking into the Gulf of Mexico for now -- but about 80-85% of what did leak is reportedly still floating around out there somewhere, just below the surface of the water. Even as we wait for it to show its face, politicians, politicos, and business leaders are showing theirs, jockeying and jostling to make sure that someone else gets blamed for the damage while they get credit for the cleanup.
The United States stands on the precipice of a double-dip recession with a midterm election on the horizon. Political ads are already airing with incumbents and challengers jockeying and jostling to make sure that blame for lost jobs lands on the incumbents and hope for new ones resides in the challengers... or vice versa.
Is one party really to blame for all of the lost jobs? Is there really a plan that will bring back old jobs or create new ones -- over 7 million total -- as quickly as they were lost? Is there a quick fix that will restore the housing market, give confidence to mortgage companies, courage to bankers, and new life to the stock market? Probably not, but that doesn't keep the leaders and the wannabe leaders from making exactly those promises just so they can get the good seats come November.
Sadly, it seems that there is no tragedy so tragic, no crisis so critical, no danger so threatening, and no problem so complex that it can't be used for someone's political gain.
How does the Christian respond to all this jockeying and jostling? What is our place and how do we relate to a world where the most important thing is not what or how well you serve but your place at the table?
THE WORD
In the gospel lesson we find ourselves at a dinner party with Jesus, who has probably been invited because the host thinks he will liven up the table conversation. What, the host no doubt wonders, will happen when I turn this guy lose on the rest of these pompous Pharisees? He just can't wait to see the sparks fly.
Or maybe not. Maybe he is genuinely interested in what Jesus has to say. Remember, much of what Jesus preached was in keeping with Pharisaic theology and beliefs. Maybe the host simply wanted his friends to hear what Jesus said so they could talk about it around the table, as was the custom with rabbinical pedagogy of that time.
Jesus turns the tables on his dinner companions, however, which was his custom.
First, he watches them as they jockey and jostle for the best seats, the seats of honor near the head of the table. Then he offers what appears to be some simple, homey advice on guest etiquette, the kind our mothers might offer to us.
Don't push and shove to get the best seats. What if someone comes in later who has more status and power than you and your host has to ask you to get up and give your seat to the newcomer? By that time the only seats that are left will be the ones at the foot of the table, where the least important people sit and you will have to go there and you will be humiliated.
Instead, it is more prudent to go to the foot of the table and sit there first. Then, if you are worthy, the host will tell someone else to get up and you will be invited to move up. A big deal will have been made over you and you will be honored. And if not, you have lost nothing.
Simple, right? Just sit at the lowest end in the humblest seats. In fact, you might want to get there early so you can jockey and jostle and shove and push your way to those seats so you can be the last-est and least-est person in the room. You'll have your host over a barrel. He'll have to move you up, right?
Just about the time we think we have this thing figured out so we can guarantee that we'll be sitting in the best seats in the house, Jesus throws us a curveball. This whole discussion isn't really about the dinner party. It's a metaphor, a parable about the kingdom of God -- in which kingdom there is no first or last or higher or lower.
When you live life in the kingdom all this jostling and jockeying for status is just so much nonsense, so much wasted effort, so much unfaith. So give it up.
Why not let go of our need for approval by people with more power and more possessions than we have? Why don't we just stop worrying so much about what people think about us -- who likes us and who doesn't, who approves of us and who disapproves? Why not give up all that scheming about how our guests will have to pay us back for our generosity, and instead just let our generosity be genuine?
Invite those who can't pay you back. Now that's generosity that pays off... eventually.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
Remember the kids' table? That was the table at which the children in the family sat for our Thanksgiving feasts. It was low-status, and if you were the oldest child (as I was) it was high-maintenance. You had to look after the little kids while the parents and other adults laughed and feasted and whooped it up around the big table in the dining room.
How I longed for the day when I would be promoted to the adult table where I could talk about important stuff and laugh at sophisticated, slightly off-color adult jokes and, dare I dream, sip wine.
Finally the day came and I was promoted to the adult table. I was bored to death. Why hadn't I appreciated the kids table when I was there? Why did I want to sit here where I didn't understand the conversations and everyone was so patronizing to me? I longed for the freedom and the spontaneous joy of the kids' table.
The sabbath dinner table in Luke's story is a marvelous metaphor that can be translated perfectly into our time and sphere. The jockeying and jostling for position and status goes on in our private and personal lives, in our families, our communities, our country, and the world.
The teenage girl who wants to be popular, the boy who wants to be admired like the quarterback -- they understand it. The college student who wants to be thin and attractive or rich and pampered -- they understand it. The stay-at-home mom who worries that her working friends don't approve of her, and the working father whose promotions didn't come as quickly as he thought they would and has had to watch younger, less qualified people move up the ladder -- they understand it. Everyone who has ever attended a class reunion understands it.
The desire for high status -- the admiration of our peers, the jealousy of lesser talents, the power to impress the impressers, the ability to dispense advice and be taken seriously -- is universal in our culture, and maybe every culture.
It poisons and pollutes our political system, it cripples our economy and our commerce, it weakens our relationships, and it undermines our churches in our efforts to spread the gospel.
But Jesus, in this story, offers a better way.
This may be the rare sermon that moves from the imperative to the indicative. The gospel story is clear about what we must do -- give up our desire and our drive for status over others and give ourselves to those who cannot pay us back, who cannot enlarge our bank account or our face in the community.
The question is: How can we do it? What is it that Christians have that allows us to let go of this powerful drive and turn our attention to those who have nothing to offer us in return?
Well, we have Jesus and his grace. We already have that ultimate status that comes only from God. We are saved, freed from this never-ending, Sisyphean pursuit.
That freedom is ours because Jesus did as he bids us do. He gave up the high status he rightly deserved and became lowly for our sake.
ANOTHER VIEW
It's Only Flat on One Side
by George Reed
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
There is an old joke (I'm using the term loosely) that tells of a person who is looking forlorn because the car has a flat tire. A helpful passerby comforts the person by pointing out the tire is only flat on one side, so all that is needed is to turn it around. Of course, a tire that is flat on only one side is of no use because the side that is supposed to be doing the work of supporting the car is always the flat side. You can't just turn it around.
It is the same with spiritual life, in that one cannot be spiritually mature without the support of both the internal and external facets. There can be no sustained spiritual growth without falling in love with God at a deeper and deeper level. Nor can spiritual growth be sustained if it does not reach out in service to the world. Even for those who choose a cloistered life, there is a sense of doing it for the good of the world and, often, of a serious prayer life for those outside the walls of the cloister.
Some folks feel there is a division between the teachings of the historical Jesus and that of the church even in its infancy. In today's readings we find harmony between the two. Here the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews talks about the need to offer sacrifices of praise to God and then immediately talks about the sacrifice of good works. There seems to be no separation of the two or any ranking of one above the other. They are both sacrifices to God that we are called to offer as Christians. Jesus spoke of the same thing in the saying we call the Great Commandment when he equated the love of God and the love of neighbor as constituting together not only the greatest commandment but the very basis on which all the Torah and the Prophets rests.
For those of us who desire to grow in faith and to reach a more mature level in our spiritual lives, we must remember these are not two equally important facets of the spiritual life from which we can choose either -- but they are so intertwined that we must choose both if we are to grow in Christ. We cannot grow close to God and not come to love what God loves -- namely, the world. We cannot serve the world in any spiritual sense without drawing closer to its creator. While we may have a slant toward one facet or the other because of our nature or learned skills, we ignore the other pole at our own peril.
ILLUSTRATIONS
So you want to be mayor, even if you are presiding over an unused alley or trash dumpster? Then welcome to the virtual world created by Foursquare -- a website/application that some have dubbed the next big thing in social media. "Mayorship" was never an intended use for the program, but like many apps in our technological society, it has taken on a life of its own. First, declare any geographical location as a venue to be represented. Then, physically visit the location and record each visit on your Foursqaure. If you visit the place more than anyone else for a 60-day period, then you are elected mayor. That is, of course, until someone usurps you. And the competition is intense and serious. The most fought-after space is in the workplace, but homes, bridges, cafes, streets, parks, and anyplace else one could possibly imagine have become political entities.
It all began when the two founders of Foursquare spent most of their time in a Greenwich Village cafÈ where they were developing the Foursquare product, which was originally designed as a messaging tool. As Dennis Crowley and Naveen Selvadurai were constantly seated at the cafÈ, a friend joked that one of them should declare himself mayor. Now, there are 2.5 million aspiring mayors across the globe.
Why the competition? Simone Oliver, who studied this phenomenon for the New York Times, can only conclude, "Foursquare fanatics can't seem to get enough of the mayoral bragging rights (even if it seems debatable that being a virtual mayor is worth bragging about)" But Mayor Jorge Lopez of Stabber Alley in Brooklyn makes clear one motivation when he says, "I just want a place to call my own."
In one of our alternate readings for we are offered this wisdom from Proverbs: "Do not exalt yourself..." Jesus, in our gospel lesson, clarifies this even further when he instructs "do not take the place of honor." Instead, Jesus insists that we be "humble." Those who scramble for bragging rights will never enter a room and take a seat at the foot of the table. Let us be sure that we strive not to be mayor but servant.
* * *
I was invited to a large banquet in which a number of people were going to be honored. According to my invitation, the time of the banquet was 7 p.m., and the doors were to be opened at 6:30. At the social hour, which preceded the dinner, I joined some friends who were standing close to the doors waiting to go in. To our amazement we saw couple after couple sneak into the banquet room. We couldn't understand where they were going or what they were doing.
The doors were opened right on time. The crowd surged in. The seating places were not arranged, and there was a mad dash as people tried to find empty tables close to the front. My friends and I waited until most of the crowd had gone in, and then we found a table close to the back. From our vantage point we could see the guests of honor being lined up; a piper was ready to pipe them in. But something was wrong. We could see the Master of Ceremonies gesturing to the front of the hall as she talked to one of the waiters.
When the conversation was over, the waiter walked to the front of the hall in order to talk to the people who were seated at tables closest to the head table. We could see him pointing to a sign in the middle of the table. With red faces, the occupants stood up and started to look for other seats. Finally we knew where the couples who had sneaked into the banquet room early had gone.
* * *
Can you imagine what it would be like if we began to take seriously Jesus' suggested means of compiling a guest list for a party in our homes? What would it be like if, say, the head of an advertising agency were to decide to have a dinner party for 12 at his home? As he and his wife begin to discuss the party, she takes out the guest list.
"I suppose we need to invite the Hanrattys," she says, naming the head of the firm's biggest customer. "They invited us to that party on their yacht last month. And then of course we'll invite Jack and Betty (the vice-president of the company) and Thor and Beatrice (the editor of the local paper in which the firm does most of its advertising and his wife) and Mange and her live-in, I can never remember his name (the editor of a fashion magazine that carries their ads), and Stu and Kari -- you remember, he's the one who..."
Her husband interrupts. "No, I want us to have a different kind of party. Forget all the people we owe and the folks we 'ought' to invite. I want to try a party like Jesus suggested. And I know the first four people I want to invite: that nice young woman and her daughter who joined the church last spring and a couple of people I met when we delivered food to the homeless shelter. I was also thinking about Pete and Jenny; you know he's been out of work for about two months now. How about that fellow who lives across from the church who's usually sitting in his wheelchair when we go past? He always looks so down and out. I think it might cheer him up. What do you say?"
What if you tried that the next time you want to have some folks in? What do you think your spouse would say? What would you serve? How would you arrange for everyone to get to your home? What would you talk about at the party?
* * *
Jim Wallis, of Washington, DC's Sojourners Community, tells of Mary Glover, who helps them run a soup kitchen for the needy. Each day, before the doors open, the workers gather round for a prayer led by Mary. "She prays as if she knows the person with whom she's talking," says Wallis, and this is what she prays: "Lord, we know you'll be coming through this line today. So help us to treat you well."
* * *
People make mistakes. When doctors make mistakes and the issue cannot be resolved amicably, a malpractice lawsuit often follows. In the late 1980s, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, decided that the way to avoid expensive lawsuits and the ensuing breakdown in relationship between patient and medical personnel is to learn how to apologize. The administration set forth a process of "open disclosure" in which the staff, patients, and their families would conference together. During these conferences, which could last up to a year, all the medical records would be reviewed, the hospital (if at fault) would admit its mistake and demonstrate new procedures to prevent a similar occurrence; then arbitrate a financial settlement. This would save all parties involved the expense of litigation, give the patient and family ownership in the corrective procedures, and maintain the importance of the doctor-patient relationship.
It was an experiment in human relations -- and it worked. Lawsuits significantly declined and patients engaged in the corrective process had a sense of well-being and satisfaction. This open disclosure policy has subsequently been adopted by numerous other medical institutions. Robert Boothman, one of the authors of a new study about this policy, said that previous to its adoption hospitals had given patients no opportunity except litigation to resolve their disputes. This made the staff defensive and all productive interactions between staff and patients would cease. Now, with the new policy, instead of practicing defensive medicine to avoid the possibility of litigation, there is openness in dialogue as to the best medical procedures to implement. Boothman said, "When you break that paradigm of litigation and give patients the chance to understand the human element of the other side -- of the doctor and what they are struggling with -- you find that people are far more forgiving and understanding than has been typically assumed."
We are told in our gospel text that when Jesus went to the home of a prominent Pharisee "he was being carefully watched." He was not being watched so the observer could learn from his teachings; he was being watched so he could be summoned before the Sanhedrin for violating a religious law. They were, in essence, looking for the opportunity to bring forth a lawsuit. With "open disclosure" Jesus broke down the barriers between the two adversary groups when he taught about humility, acceptance, and apologizing. Now, instead of taking Jesus before the court, the observers went away with a new understanding of relationships. They understood from the openness of Jesus that dialogue, not litigation, is the best course of action. This is a lesson that we all should put into practice -- that is, the art of apologizing and forgiving.
* * *
In 1792, during the French Revolution, the crowds of disenchanted subjects stormed the royal palace in Paris. The king, whose army was defeated by Austria, had no soldiers at his command. He had no alternative but to surrender to the demands of his constituents. The people no longer wanted to be ruled by a monarchy; instead, they wanted to be citizens of a republic. In a symbolic gesture that the monarchy had come to an end, Louis XVI was forced to don the "liberty cap." The tricolor cap was a symbol of republicanism and wearing the cap was a sign of submission to the will of the people.
The message of humility is throughout our lectionary readings this week. Corresponding with this is the message that instead of being autocrats we are to be servants. Let us voluntarily place upon our heads and in our hearts the "liberty cap," with the realization that we are to be servants, not overseers.
* * *
Few short stories are as compelling in their treatment of humility as Flannery O'Connor's "Revelation." In the story, Mrs. Turpin sits in a doctor's waiting room delivering a caustic and bigoted evaluation of the other people gathered. Not only is their worth less than her own, she maintains, but the very criteria for one's worth in her eyes is their similarity to herself. A vision upon her return home dramatically transforms her opinion. A stairway to heaven is revealed upon which the very people she had so earlier disdained -- the mentally challenged, the poor, the people of other races -- all precede the persons most like herself in their entry to heaven.
* * *
While being interviewed recently on Live with Regis and Kelly, Jennifer Aniston said that for a September issue of Harper's Bazaar she had to dress up as Barbra Streisand. Regis exclaimed, "You're playing dress-up!"
To which Aniston replied, "Yes, I play dress-up! I do it for a living, like a retard."
Aniston use of the R-word on national television brought forth a thunderous chorus of criticism for her insensitivity. Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc, a nonprofit advocate for those with intellectual and development disabilities, said her comment was "extraordinarily offensive and inappropriate." He noted there are over 5 million individuals with intellectual disabilities, and when you add in their family and friends, tens of millions of people were offended. He rightfully reported, "Every time folks hear that word, it kind of reminds them of all the discrimination and oppression they've experienced in their lives. Even if it wasn't intended to insult them, that is the effect of it."
Kristen Seckler, spokeswoman for the Special Olympics, said that instead of using the R-word, celebrities ought to learn the use the word "ridiculous."
Jesus speaks of having humility. In his story of a prominent person holding a wedding feast, he instructs us that instead of inviting rich neighbors, we should "invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed." It is a cautionary tale of being respectful and inviting of all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Then, when on national television or in the home of an acquaintance, instead of using the R-word we will be more comfortable with language and actions that are inclusive.
* * *
As a result of the current recession, many promising young lawyers have been unable to secure positions with prestigious law firms. Yet many of these law firms, not wanting to lose potential talent, will pay the new graduates a stipend to work in the public sector for a year, with the understanding that a position in the firm will be forthcoming. This was a good idea except for one unforeseen factor -- some of the young lawyers are not returning, as they prefer to work with the indigent and for social justice rather than for well-endowed corporate conglomerates.
Avi Singh regards the work of public interest law as a "sustaining motivation." The Harvard Law graduate says, "Here, I'm helping clients on a very basic level." Jennifer Romig, a University of Chicago graduate, relates, "Like most law students, I had intentions of doing pro bono work. Now, after having spent an entire year seeing what a difference you can make, the theoretical has become real." There are countless other graduates who have surrendered the potential for six-figure salaries in order to be involved in the lives of individuals and nonprofit organizations who desperately need legal counsel that would otherwise be unaffordable.
In this week's epistle reading, the author of Hebrews writes: "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." These graduates of Ivy League law schools may not have studied this passage -- in fact, they may not even be aware of it -- but they are certainly living its message. It is a prime demonstration of the self-sacrificing service we all must be engaged in. The theoretical message of the scriptures must become real.
* * *
New York Times television critic Alessandra Stanley recently weighed in on the spate of reality shows that seems to currently be in vogue, noting that while they may be sleazy, they're not necessarily a sign of the apocalypse. Stanley opined that while "it is tempting to view Jersey Shore or any Kardashian sister as the knell of civilization's end," in fact, reality shows "are an extension of a time-honored form of entertainment, one that dates back to landed gentry." She says that though today's shows "exalt indolent, loud-mouthed exhibitionists," we have always enjoyed watching men and women spend money frivolously, engage in sex scandals, and perhaps even commit murder. The only difference is that the stories have moved from the society pages of the newspapers to our television screens. Perhaps the only thing that has really changed, Stanley notes, is that "celebrities of yore wore more clothes and had better manners." She highlighted this when she wrote, "Television merely invades the process and broadens the social pool." Somehow, she notes at the end of her article, we are attracted to the "surrealism" of these stories.
Jeremiah tells the people of Judah that they have forsaken their Lord and have "followed worthless idols." Jeremiah wonders, "Has a nation ever changed its gods? But my people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols." Our continued fascination with realty shows and the celebrities that adorn the magazine covers at grocery store checkout lines makes one wonder who is our God? Have we come to idolize and fanaticize with the Kardashian sisters and their contemporaries to such an extent that we focus more on what they have to say rather than the scriptures? Have we become more enthralled with the continuing saga of Jersey Shore rather than the timeless message of the Exodus? The belligerent characters of reality TV may be entertaining, but they are not enlightening. Let us be sure that Playboy cover girl Kim does not become our Jesus.
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: Sing aloud to God our strength;
People: Shout for joy to the God of Jacob.
Leader: God is the one who brought us out of bondage.
People: But we did not listen to God.
Leader: God desires that we listen and live.
People: Only then will we be truly satisfied.
OR
Leader: Come and join with Jesus.
People: We follow our exalted head.
Leader: Come and join with Jesus the servant.
People: We go with Jesus to serve others.
Leader: Come and join with Jesus the despised.
People: We take on shame and abuse for God's reign.
Hymns and Sacred Songs
"O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee"
found in:
UMH: 430
H82: 659, 660
PH: 357
NNBH: 445
NCH: 503
CH: 602
LBW: 492
"Cuando El Pobre" ("When the Poor Ones")
found in:
UMH: 434
PH: 407
CH: 662
"What Does the Lord Require"
found in:
UMH: 441
H82: 605
PH: 405
CH: 659
"Lift High the Cross"
found in:
UMH: 159
H82: 473
PH: 371
AAHH: 242
NCH: 198
CH: 108
LBW: 377
Renew: 297
"O Love, How Deep"
found in:
UMH: 267
H82: 448, 449
PH: 83
NCH: 209
LBW: 88
"O Zion, Haste"
found in:
UMH: 573
H82: 539
NNBH: 422
LBW: 397
"God of Love and God of Power"
found in:
UMH: 578
"When the Church of Jesus"
found in:
UMH: 592
CH: 470
"The Steadfast Love of the Lord"
found in:
CCB: 28
Renew: 23
"We Are His Hands"
found in:
CCB: 85
"Make Me a Servant"
found in:
CCB: 90
Music Resources Key:
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982 (The Episcopal Church)
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African-American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day / Collect
O God who created us in your image: Grant us the wisdom and courage to share your loving kindness with others rather than seeking our own aggrandizement; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
O God who created us to be in communion with you and in service to each other: Grant that we will not be satisfied with our lives until we are doing both faithfully; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We enter your presence that we might offer our worship and praise to you, our God and our Redeemer, and so that we might be strengthened and encouraged in our service to others. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins, and especially the ways in which we seek our good above the good of others.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have allowed ourselves to be drawn to the false light of looking good in the eyes of others instead of to the true light of being of service to others. We often are more concerned about how the things we do look to others than about what good we could do for others. Forgive us our foolish ways and draw us back to the side of Jesus who has shown us how to offer self for others. Amen.
Leader: God seeks us and desires to heal us, and then through us to heal all of creation. God welcomes your confession and offers you the power of the Spirit to amend your life.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord's Prayer)
We worship and adore you, O God, for your loving kindness and compassion are forever. Your love for your creation knows no bounds.
(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)
We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have allowed ourselves to be drawn to the false light of looking good in the eyes of others instead of to the true light of being of service to others. We often are more concerned about how the things we do look to others than about what good we could do for others. Forgive us our foolish ways and draw us back to the side of Jesus who has shown us how to offer self for others.
We give you thanks for all your kindness toward us and all of your creation. We thank you for the countless ways you have come to us and called us to life in its fullness.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray to you for our sisters and brothers in need, asking as you are about the work of healing their hurts that our prayers, our spirits, and our love might be a part of your ministry. Help us also to seek those ways in which we can be your physical presence to those who are hurting.
(Other intercessions may be offered.)
All these things we ask in the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray together, saying:
Our Father... Amen.
(or if the Lord's Prayer is not used at this point in the service)
All this we ask in the Name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.
Visuals
Make a simple mobile with cards that have the words "Worship" on one side and "Service" on the other, "God" on one side and "Others" on the other, and so on. Or better yet, put the words on cards of different colors and glue or staple them together so that not only the words but the colors change as the mobile moves.
Children's Sermon Starter
Using the mobile as a prop, talk to the children about how it is only when we see both sides of the cards that we get the real picture the mobile is meant to show.
If you are willing to bring in a bicycle with a flat tire, you can use the ideas from the "It's Only Flat on One Side" section above.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
The Problem with Pride
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Object: a trophy of some kind
Good morning, boys and girls! I brought this trophy to show you today. This trophy was awarded to ____________ for ____________.
Do any of you play sports -- baseball, soccer, football, any kind of sport? (let them answer) Well, are you very good at it? Have you done something good when you played? (Let them answer. There may not be anyone who wants to boast about their achievements. If not, substitute something good they did in school and use the same kind of questioning.)
Well, that's good. How did you learn to do that? Did you just walk on the field one day and do it, or did you have to learn? (let them answer) Of course, you had to learn, so some credit goes to the coach and others who taught you, right? (they will agree) Isn't it also true that you couldn't have done that if you didn't have two legs? Two arms? A mind that lets you learn? (let them answer) Yes, well maybe God should get some credit too. Isn't he the one who gave you your body and the ability to do those things? What do you think? (they will agree) Okay, so maybe you would agree that we should be ready to give God and other people credit when we do something good. Isn't that right? (let them answer)
Jesus tells us about a situation that could be embarrassing. A man went to a dinner and took the best seat in the place because he thought he was an important person. The man in charge had to tell him to take a different seat because there were other people there who were more important than he. Don't you think that man was embarrassed? (let them answer)
The man shouldn't have been so full of pride. He should have taken the seat for less important people and then the man in charge might have moved him up into a better place. Then he wouldn't have been embarrassed by having to move down.
We need to remember not to brag about ourselves. When we do something good, we need to give the credit to God and others instead of saying how good we are. Do you think that's a good idea? (let them answer)
Prayer: Dear God: Forgive us for the sin of pride. Help us always to be humble about the things we do, remembering that you are the one who gives us our minds, our bodies, and whatever skill or talent we may have. Amen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, August 29, 2010, issue.
Copyright 2010 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
Team member George Reed shares some additional thoughts on the Hebrews text and its admonition for us to find a healthy balance in our faith between spirituality and action. George points out that these are the twin poles supporting our faith, and they are so intertwined that we must (as our text tells us) "not neglect to do good."
Jockeying and Jostling at the Table of Prestige
by Dean Feldmeyer
Luke 14:1, 7-14
THE WORLD
In New York City, a group of American Muslims want to build a mosque and cultural center on land they have owned for years. The land, however, is only two city blocks from the former site of the World Trade Center destroyed on September 11, 2001 by Muslim extremists, killing 2,518 Americans and 234 foreign nationals.
The site is considered "hallowed" by many, and some think Muslims should not be allowed to build there. Others believe our constitutionally protected freedom of religion gives them the right to build, but that it would be insensitive to build a mosque only two blocks away from the site we have come to know as "ground zero."
Whether or not they should be allowed to build at that location -- and whether or not it is insensitive to build there -- has become a source of much debate both in New York and across the country, especially among politicians and media pundits, many of whom are jockeying and jostling to land on the most popular and/or politically profitable side of the argument.
Questions about how close is too close and how far away is far enough have been lost in the shouting. What exactly this mosque and cultural center might accomplish in the name of religious tolerance and understanding has not even been explored.
For how many people is this an issue of sensitivity, and for how many is it an issue of political posturing for the sake of status and power? How many of those whose voices are so strident in the debate are simply pushing buttons and pulling strings to gain some political advantage or increase their market share?
Now, in Florence, Kentucky (just south of Cincinnati), another group of American Muslims are seeking to build a mosque so they can move from the rented property they have used for decades. The proposal is being met with harsh opposition even though there is no "hallowed ground" nearby -- just a shopping mall.
In Pakistan, flooding has killed thousands and displaced over 2 million people, while countries and militant groups jockey and jostle to make sure their names are associated with any help that arrives. The question of who will get the credit for helping is being asked more than who will get aid (and when and how) to the desperate victims.†Will it be the USA or the Pakistani government, or will the Taliban step in and convince the people that their government doesn't care about them and Americans are just trying to buy their approval with meager handouts?
Meanwhile, here in the USA the oil has stopped leaking into the Gulf of Mexico for now -- but about 80-85% of what did leak is reportedly still floating around out there somewhere, just below the surface of the water. Even as we wait for it to show its face, politicians, politicos, and business leaders are showing theirs, jockeying and jostling to make sure that someone else gets blamed for the damage while they get credit for the cleanup.
The United States stands on the precipice of a double-dip recession with a midterm election on the horizon. Political ads are already airing with incumbents and challengers jockeying and jostling to make sure that blame for lost jobs lands on the incumbents and hope for new ones resides in the challengers... or vice versa.
Is one party really to blame for all of the lost jobs? Is there really a plan that will bring back old jobs or create new ones -- over 7 million total -- as quickly as they were lost? Is there a quick fix that will restore the housing market, give confidence to mortgage companies, courage to bankers, and new life to the stock market? Probably not, but that doesn't keep the leaders and the wannabe leaders from making exactly those promises just so they can get the good seats come November.
Sadly, it seems that there is no tragedy so tragic, no crisis so critical, no danger so threatening, and no problem so complex that it can't be used for someone's political gain.
How does the Christian respond to all this jockeying and jostling? What is our place and how do we relate to a world where the most important thing is not what or how well you serve but your place at the table?
THE WORD
In the gospel lesson we find ourselves at a dinner party with Jesus, who has probably been invited because the host thinks he will liven up the table conversation. What, the host no doubt wonders, will happen when I turn this guy lose on the rest of these pompous Pharisees? He just can't wait to see the sparks fly.
Or maybe not. Maybe he is genuinely interested in what Jesus has to say. Remember, much of what Jesus preached was in keeping with Pharisaic theology and beliefs. Maybe the host simply wanted his friends to hear what Jesus said so they could talk about it around the table, as was the custom with rabbinical pedagogy of that time.
Jesus turns the tables on his dinner companions, however, which was his custom.
First, he watches them as they jockey and jostle for the best seats, the seats of honor near the head of the table. Then he offers what appears to be some simple, homey advice on guest etiquette, the kind our mothers might offer to us.
Don't push and shove to get the best seats. What if someone comes in later who has more status and power than you and your host has to ask you to get up and give your seat to the newcomer? By that time the only seats that are left will be the ones at the foot of the table, where the least important people sit and you will have to go there and you will be humiliated.
Instead, it is more prudent to go to the foot of the table and sit there first. Then, if you are worthy, the host will tell someone else to get up and you will be invited to move up. A big deal will have been made over you and you will be honored. And if not, you have lost nothing.
Simple, right? Just sit at the lowest end in the humblest seats. In fact, you might want to get there early so you can jockey and jostle and shove and push your way to those seats so you can be the last-est and least-est person in the room. You'll have your host over a barrel. He'll have to move you up, right?
Just about the time we think we have this thing figured out so we can guarantee that we'll be sitting in the best seats in the house, Jesus throws us a curveball. This whole discussion isn't really about the dinner party. It's a metaphor, a parable about the kingdom of God -- in which kingdom there is no first or last or higher or lower.
When you live life in the kingdom all this jostling and jockeying for status is just so much nonsense, so much wasted effort, so much unfaith. So give it up.
Why not let go of our need for approval by people with more power and more possessions than we have? Why don't we just stop worrying so much about what people think about us -- who likes us and who doesn't, who approves of us and who disapproves? Why not give up all that scheming about how our guests will have to pay us back for our generosity, and instead just let our generosity be genuine?
Invite those who can't pay you back. Now that's generosity that pays off... eventually.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
Remember the kids' table? That was the table at which the children in the family sat for our Thanksgiving feasts. It was low-status, and if you were the oldest child (as I was) it was high-maintenance. You had to look after the little kids while the parents and other adults laughed and feasted and whooped it up around the big table in the dining room.
How I longed for the day when I would be promoted to the adult table where I could talk about important stuff and laugh at sophisticated, slightly off-color adult jokes and, dare I dream, sip wine.
Finally the day came and I was promoted to the adult table. I was bored to death. Why hadn't I appreciated the kids table when I was there? Why did I want to sit here where I didn't understand the conversations and everyone was so patronizing to me? I longed for the freedom and the spontaneous joy of the kids' table.
The sabbath dinner table in Luke's story is a marvelous metaphor that can be translated perfectly into our time and sphere. The jockeying and jostling for position and status goes on in our private and personal lives, in our families, our communities, our country, and the world.
The teenage girl who wants to be popular, the boy who wants to be admired like the quarterback -- they understand it. The college student who wants to be thin and attractive or rich and pampered -- they understand it. The stay-at-home mom who worries that her working friends don't approve of her, and the working father whose promotions didn't come as quickly as he thought they would and has had to watch younger, less qualified people move up the ladder -- they understand it. Everyone who has ever attended a class reunion understands it.
The desire for high status -- the admiration of our peers, the jealousy of lesser talents, the power to impress the impressers, the ability to dispense advice and be taken seriously -- is universal in our culture, and maybe every culture.
It poisons and pollutes our political system, it cripples our economy and our commerce, it weakens our relationships, and it undermines our churches in our efforts to spread the gospel.
But Jesus, in this story, offers a better way.
This may be the rare sermon that moves from the imperative to the indicative. The gospel story is clear about what we must do -- give up our desire and our drive for status over others and give ourselves to those who cannot pay us back, who cannot enlarge our bank account or our face in the community.
The question is: How can we do it? What is it that Christians have that allows us to let go of this powerful drive and turn our attention to those who have nothing to offer us in return?
Well, we have Jesus and his grace. We already have that ultimate status that comes only from God. We are saved, freed from this never-ending, Sisyphean pursuit.
That freedom is ours because Jesus did as he bids us do. He gave up the high status he rightly deserved and became lowly for our sake.
ANOTHER VIEW
It's Only Flat on One Side
by George Reed
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
There is an old joke (I'm using the term loosely) that tells of a person who is looking forlorn because the car has a flat tire. A helpful passerby comforts the person by pointing out the tire is only flat on one side, so all that is needed is to turn it around. Of course, a tire that is flat on only one side is of no use because the side that is supposed to be doing the work of supporting the car is always the flat side. You can't just turn it around.
It is the same with spiritual life, in that one cannot be spiritually mature without the support of both the internal and external facets. There can be no sustained spiritual growth without falling in love with God at a deeper and deeper level. Nor can spiritual growth be sustained if it does not reach out in service to the world. Even for those who choose a cloistered life, there is a sense of doing it for the good of the world and, often, of a serious prayer life for those outside the walls of the cloister.
Some folks feel there is a division between the teachings of the historical Jesus and that of the church even in its infancy. In today's readings we find harmony between the two. Here the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews talks about the need to offer sacrifices of praise to God and then immediately talks about the sacrifice of good works. There seems to be no separation of the two or any ranking of one above the other. They are both sacrifices to God that we are called to offer as Christians. Jesus spoke of the same thing in the saying we call the Great Commandment when he equated the love of God and the love of neighbor as constituting together not only the greatest commandment but the very basis on which all the Torah and the Prophets rests.
For those of us who desire to grow in faith and to reach a more mature level in our spiritual lives, we must remember these are not two equally important facets of the spiritual life from which we can choose either -- but they are so intertwined that we must choose both if we are to grow in Christ. We cannot grow close to God and not come to love what God loves -- namely, the world. We cannot serve the world in any spiritual sense without drawing closer to its creator. While we may have a slant toward one facet or the other because of our nature or learned skills, we ignore the other pole at our own peril.
ILLUSTRATIONS
So you want to be mayor, even if you are presiding over an unused alley or trash dumpster? Then welcome to the virtual world created by Foursquare -- a website/application that some have dubbed the next big thing in social media. "Mayorship" was never an intended use for the program, but like many apps in our technological society, it has taken on a life of its own. First, declare any geographical location as a venue to be represented. Then, physically visit the location and record each visit on your Foursqaure. If you visit the place more than anyone else for a 60-day period, then you are elected mayor. That is, of course, until someone usurps you. And the competition is intense and serious. The most fought-after space is in the workplace, but homes, bridges, cafes, streets, parks, and anyplace else one could possibly imagine have become political entities.
It all began when the two founders of Foursquare spent most of their time in a Greenwich Village cafÈ where they were developing the Foursquare product, which was originally designed as a messaging tool. As Dennis Crowley and Naveen Selvadurai were constantly seated at the cafÈ, a friend joked that one of them should declare himself mayor. Now, there are 2.5 million aspiring mayors across the globe.
Why the competition? Simone Oliver, who studied this phenomenon for the New York Times, can only conclude, "Foursquare fanatics can't seem to get enough of the mayoral bragging rights (even if it seems debatable that being a virtual mayor is worth bragging about)" But Mayor Jorge Lopez of Stabber Alley in Brooklyn makes clear one motivation when he says, "I just want a place to call my own."
In one of our alternate readings for we are offered this wisdom from Proverbs: "Do not exalt yourself..." Jesus, in our gospel lesson, clarifies this even further when he instructs "do not take the place of honor." Instead, Jesus insists that we be "humble." Those who scramble for bragging rights will never enter a room and take a seat at the foot of the table. Let us be sure that we strive not to be mayor but servant.
* * *
I was invited to a large banquet in which a number of people were going to be honored. According to my invitation, the time of the banquet was 7 p.m., and the doors were to be opened at 6:30. At the social hour, which preceded the dinner, I joined some friends who were standing close to the doors waiting to go in. To our amazement we saw couple after couple sneak into the banquet room. We couldn't understand where they were going or what they were doing.
The doors were opened right on time. The crowd surged in. The seating places were not arranged, and there was a mad dash as people tried to find empty tables close to the front. My friends and I waited until most of the crowd had gone in, and then we found a table close to the back. From our vantage point we could see the guests of honor being lined up; a piper was ready to pipe them in. But something was wrong. We could see the Master of Ceremonies gesturing to the front of the hall as she talked to one of the waiters.
When the conversation was over, the waiter walked to the front of the hall in order to talk to the people who were seated at tables closest to the head table. We could see him pointing to a sign in the middle of the table. With red faces, the occupants stood up and started to look for other seats. Finally we knew where the couples who had sneaked into the banquet room early had gone.
* * *
Can you imagine what it would be like if we began to take seriously Jesus' suggested means of compiling a guest list for a party in our homes? What would it be like if, say, the head of an advertising agency were to decide to have a dinner party for 12 at his home? As he and his wife begin to discuss the party, she takes out the guest list.
"I suppose we need to invite the Hanrattys," she says, naming the head of the firm's biggest customer. "They invited us to that party on their yacht last month. And then of course we'll invite Jack and Betty (the vice-president of the company) and Thor and Beatrice (the editor of the local paper in which the firm does most of its advertising and his wife) and Mange and her live-in, I can never remember his name (the editor of a fashion magazine that carries their ads), and Stu and Kari -- you remember, he's the one who..."
Her husband interrupts. "No, I want us to have a different kind of party. Forget all the people we owe and the folks we 'ought' to invite. I want to try a party like Jesus suggested. And I know the first four people I want to invite: that nice young woman and her daughter who joined the church last spring and a couple of people I met when we delivered food to the homeless shelter. I was also thinking about Pete and Jenny; you know he's been out of work for about two months now. How about that fellow who lives across from the church who's usually sitting in his wheelchair when we go past? He always looks so down and out. I think it might cheer him up. What do you say?"
What if you tried that the next time you want to have some folks in? What do you think your spouse would say? What would you serve? How would you arrange for everyone to get to your home? What would you talk about at the party?
* * *
Jim Wallis, of Washington, DC's Sojourners Community, tells of Mary Glover, who helps them run a soup kitchen for the needy. Each day, before the doors open, the workers gather round for a prayer led by Mary. "She prays as if she knows the person with whom she's talking," says Wallis, and this is what she prays: "Lord, we know you'll be coming through this line today. So help us to treat you well."
* * *
People make mistakes. When doctors make mistakes and the issue cannot be resolved amicably, a malpractice lawsuit often follows. In the late 1980s, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, decided that the way to avoid expensive lawsuits and the ensuing breakdown in relationship between patient and medical personnel is to learn how to apologize. The administration set forth a process of "open disclosure" in which the staff, patients, and their families would conference together. During these conferences, which could last up to a year, all the medical records would be reviewed, the hospital (if at fault) would admit its mistake and demonstrate new procedures to prevent a similar occurrence; then arbitrate a financial settlement. This would save all parties involved the expense of litigation, give the patient and family ownership in the corrective procedures, and maintain the importance of the doctor-patient relationship.
It was an experiment in human relations -- and it worked. Lawsuits significantly declined and patients engaged in the corrective process had a sense of well-being and satisfaction. This open disclosure policy has subsequently been adopted by numerous other medical institutions. Robert Boothman, one of the authors of a new study about this policy, said that previous to its adoption hospitals had given patients no opportunity except litigation to resolve their disputes. This made the staff defensive and all productive interactions between staff and patients would cease. Now, with the new policy, instead of practicing defensive medicine to avoid the possibility of litigation, there is openness in dialogue as to the best medical procedures to implement. Boothman said, "When you break that paradigm of litigation and give patients the chance to understand the human element of the other side -- of the doctor and what they are struggling with -- you find that people are far more forgiving and understanding than has been typically assumed."
We are told in our gospel text that when Jesus went to the home of a prominent Pharisee "he was being carefully watched." He was not being watched so the observer could learn from his teachings; he was being watched so he could be summoned before the Sanhedrin for violating a religious law. They were, in essence, looking for the opportunity to bring forth a lawsuit. With "open disclosure" Jesus broke down the barriers between the two adversary groups when he taught about humility, acceptance, and apologizing. Now, instead of taking Jesus before the court, the observers went away with a new understanding of relationships. They understood from the openness of Jesus that dialogue, not litigation, is the best course of action. This is a lesson that we all should put into practice -- that is, the art of apologizing and forgiving.
* * *
In 1792, during the French Revolution, the crowds of disenchanted subjects stormed the royal palace in Paris. The king, whose army was defeated by Austria, had no soldiers at his command. He had no alternative but to surrender to the demands of his constituents. The people no longer wanted to be ruled by a monarchy; instead, they wanted to be citizens of a republic. In a symbolic gesture that the monarchy had come to an end, Louis XVI was forced to don the "liberty cap." The tricolor cap was a symbol of republicanism and wearing the cap was a sign of submission to the will of the people.
The message of humility is throughout our lectionary readings this week. Corresponding with this is the message that instead of being autocrats we are to be servants. Let us voluntarily place upon our heads and in our hearts the "liberty cap," with the realization that we are to be servants, not overseers.
* * *
Few short stories are as compelling in their treatment of humility as Flannery O'Connor's "Revelation." In the story, Mrs. Turpin sits in a doctor's waiting room delivering a caustic and bigoted evaluation of the other people gathered. Not only is their worth less than her own, she maintains, but the very criteria for one's worth in her eyes is their similarity to herself. A vision upon her return home dramatically transforms her opinion. A stairway to heaven is revealed upon which the very people she had so earlier disdained -- the mentally challenged, the poor, the people of other races -- all precede the persons most like herself in their entry to heaven.
* * *
While being interviewed recently on Live with Regis and Kelly, Jennifer Aniston said that for a September issue of Harper's Bazaar she had to dress up as Barbra Streisand. Regis exclaimed, "You're playing dress-up!"
To which Aniston replied, "Yes, I play dress-up! I do it for a living, like a retard."
Aniston use of the R-word on national television brought forth a thunderous chorus of criticism for her insensitivity. Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc, a nonprofit advocate for those with intellectual and development disabilities, said her comment was "extraordinarily offensive and inappropriate." He noted there are over 5 million individuals with intellectual disabilities, and when you add in their family and friends, tens of millions of people were offended. He rightfully reported, "Every time folks hear that word, it kind of reminds them of all the discrimination and oppression they've experienced in their lives. Even if it wasn't intended to insult them, that is the effect of it."
Kristen Seckler, spokeswoman for the Special Olympics, said that instead of using the R-word, celebrities ought to learn the use the word "ridiculous."
Jesus speaks of having humility. In his story of a prominent person holding a wedding feast, he instructs us that instead of inviting rich neighbors, we should "invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed." It is a cautionary tale of being respectful and inviting of all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Then, when on national television or in the home of an acquaintance, instead of using the R-word we will be more comfortable with language and actions that are inclusive.
* * *
As a result of the current recession, many promising young lawyers have been unable to secure positions with prestigious law firms. Yet many of these law firms, not wanting to lose potential talent, will pay the new graduates a stipend to work in the public sector for a year, with the understanding that a position in the firm will be forthcoming. This was a good idea except for one unforeseen factor -- some of the young lawyers are not returning, as they prefer to work with the indigent and for social justice rather than for well-endowed corporate conglomerates.
Avi Singh regards the work of public interest law as a "sustaining motivation." The Harvard Law graduate says, "Here, I'm helping clients on a very basic level." Jennifer Romig, a University of Chicago graduate, relates, "Like most law students, I had intentions of doing pro bono work. Now, after having spent an entire year seeing what a difference you can make, the theoretical has become real." There are countless other graduates who have surrendered the potential for six-figure salaries in order to be involved in the lives of individuals and nonprofit organizations who desperately need legal counsel that would otherwise be unaffordable.
In this week's epistle reading, the author of Hebrews writes: "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." These graduates of Ivy League law schools may not have studied this passage -- in fact, they may not even be aware of it -- but they are certainly living its message. It is a prime demonstration of the self-sacrificing service we all must be engaged in. The theoretical message of the scriptures must become real.
* * *
New York Times television critic Alessandra Stanley recently weighed in on the spate of reality shows that seems to currently be in vogue, noting that while they may be sleazy, they're not necessarily a sign of the apocalypse. Stanley opined that while "it is tempting to view Jersey Shore or any Kardashian sister as the knell of civilization's end," in fact, reality shows "are an extension of a time-honored form of entertainment, one that dates back to landed gentry." She says that though today's shows "exalt indolent, loud-mouthed exhibitionists," we have always enjoyed watching men and women spend money frivolously, engage in sex scandals, and perhaps even commit murder. The only difference is that the stories have moved from the society pages of the newspapers to our television screens. Perhaps the only thing that has really changed, Stanley notes, is that "celebrities of yore wore more clothes and had better manners." She highlighted this when she wrote, "Television merely invades the process and broadens the social pool." Somehow, she notes at the end of her article, we are attracted to the "surrealism" of these stories.
Jeremiah tells the people of Judah that they have forsaken their Lord and have "followed worthless idols." Jeremiah wonders, "Has a nation ever changed its gods? But my people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols." Our continued fascination with realty shows and the celebrities that adorn the magazine covers at grocery store checkout lines makes one wonder who is our God? Have we come to idolize and fanaticize with the Kardashian sisters and their contemporaries to such an extent that we focus more on what they have to say rather than the scriptures? Have we become more enthralled with the continuing saga of Jersey Shore rather than the timeless message of the Exodus? The belligerent characters of reality TV may be entertaining, but they are not enlightening. Let us be sure that Playboy cover girl Kim does not become our Jesus.
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: Sing aloud to God our strength;
People: Shout for joy to the God of Jacob.
Leader: God is the one who brought us out of bondage.
People: But we did not listen to God.
Leader: God desires that we listen and live.
People: Only then will we be truly satisfied.
OR
Leader: Come and join with Jesus.
People: We follow our exalted head.
Leader: Come and join with Jesus the servant.
People: We go with Jesus to serve others.
Leader: Come and join with Jesus the despised.
People: We take on shame and abuse for God's reign.
Hymns and Sacred Songs
"O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee"
found in:
UMH: 430
H82: 659, 660
PH: 357
NNBH: 445
NCH: 503
CH: 602
LBW: 492
"Cuando El Pobre" ("When the Poor Ones")
found in:
UMH: 434
PH: 407
CH: 662
"What Does the Lord Require"
found in:
UMH: 441
H82: 605
PH: 405
CH: 659
"Lift High the Cross"
found in:
UMH: 159
H82: 473
PH: 371
AAHH: 242
NCH: 198
CH: 108
LBW: 377
Renew: 297
"O Love, How Deep"
found in:
UMH: 267
H82: 448, 449
PH: 83
NCH: 209
LBW: 88
"O Zion, Haste"
found in:
UMH: 573
H82: 539
NNBH: 422
LBW: 397
"God of Love and God of Power"
found in:
UMH: 578
"When the Church of Jesus"
found in:
UMH: 592
CH: 470
"The Steadfast Love of the Lord"
found in:
CCB: 28
Renew: 23
"We Are His Hands"
found in:
CCB: 85
"Make Me a Servant"
found in:
CCB: 90
Music Resources Key:
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982 (The Episcopal Church)
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African-American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day / Collect
O God who created us in your image: Grant us the wisdom and courage to share your loving kindness with others rather than seeking our own aggrandizement; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
O God who created us to be in communion with you and in service to each other: Grant that we will not be satisfied with our lives until we are doing both faithfully; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We enter your presence that we might offer our worship and praise to you, our God and our Redeemer, and so that we might be strengthened and encouraged in our service to others. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins, and especially the ways in which we seek our good above the good of others.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have allowed ourselves to be drawn to the false light of looking good in the eyes of others instead of to the true light of being of service to others. We often are more concerned about how the things we do look to others than about what good we could do for others. Forgive us our foolish ways and draw us back to the side of Jesus who has shown us how to offer self for others. Amen.
Leader: God seeks us and desires to heal us, and then through us to heal all of creation. God welcomes your confession and offers you the power of the Spirit to amend your life.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord's Prayer)
We worship and adore you, O God, for your loving kindness and compassion are forever. Your love for your creation knows no bounds.
(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)
We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have allowed ourselves to be drawn to the false light of looking good in the eyes of others instead of to the true light of being of service to others. We often are more concerned about how the things we do look to others than about what good we could do for others. Forgive us our foolish ways and draw us back to the side of Jesus who has shown us how to offer self for others.
We give you thanks for all your kindness toward us and all of your creation. We thank you for the countless ways you have come to us and called us to life in its fullness.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray to you for our sisters and brothers in need, asking as you are about the work of healing their hurts that our prayers, our spirits, and our love might be a part of your ministry. Help us also to seek those ways in which we can be your physical presence to those who are hurting.
(Other intercessions may be offered.)
All these things we ask in the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray together, saying:
Our Father... Amen.
(or if the Lord's Prayer is not used at this point in the service)
All this we ask in the Name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.
Visuals
Make a simple mobile with cards that have the words "Worship" on one side and "Service" on the other, "God" on one side and "Others" on the other, and so on. Or better yet, put the words on cards of different colors and glue or staple them together so that not only the words but the colors change as the mobile moves.
Children's Sermon Starter
Using the mobile as a prop, talk to the children about how it is only when we see both sides of the cards that we get the real picture the mobile is meant to show.
If you are willing to bring in a bicycle with a flat tire, you can use the ideas from the "It's Only Flat on One Side" section above.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
The Problem with Pride
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Object: a trophy of some kind
Good morning, boys and girls! I brought this trophy to show you today. This trophy was awarded to ____________ for ____________.
Do any of you play sports -- baseball, soccer, football, any kind of sport? (let them answer) Well, are you very good at it? Have you done something good when you played? (Let them answer. There may not be anyone who wants to boast about their achievements. If not, substitute something good they did in school and use the same kind of questioning.)
Well, that's good. How did you learn to do that? Did you just walk on the field one day and do it, or did you have to learn? (let them answer) Of course, you had to learn, so some credit goes to the coach and others who taught you, right? (they will agree) Isn't it also true that you couldn't have done that if you didn't have two legs? Two arms? A mind that lets you learn? (let them answer) Yes, well maybe God should get some credit too. Isn't he the one who gave you your body and the ability to do those things? What do you think? (they will agree) Okay, so maybe you would agree that we should be ready to give God and other people credit when we do something good. Isn't that right? (let them answer)
Jesus tells us about a situation that could be embarrassing. A man went to a dinner and took the best seat in the place because he thought he was an important person. The man in charge had to tell him to take a different seat because there were other people there who were more important than he. Don't you think that man was embarrassed? (let them answer)
The man shouldn't have been so full of pride. He should have taken the seat for less important people and then the man in charge might have moved him up into a better place. Then he wouldn't have been embarrassed by having to move down.
We need to remember not to brag about ourselves. When we do something good, we need to give the credit to God and others instead of saying how good we are. Do you think that's a good idea? (let them answer)
Prayer: Dear God: Forgive us for the sin of pride. Help us always to be humble about the things we do, remembering that you are the one who gives us our minds, our bodies, and whatever skill or talent we may have. Amen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, August 29, 2010, issue.
Copyright 2010 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
