Prayer For Public Consumption?
Children's sermon
Illustration
Preaching
Sermon
Worship
Object:
Dear Fellow Preachers,
With January 26 being Super Bowl Sunday, is there likely to be a more common topic in the national consciousness? Here at The Immediate Word, we think the occasion provides a good opportunity to talk about prayer (just think about how much public and private praying goes on at sporting events!).
So in this installment, we've asked Immediate Word team member Carter Shelley to consider the matter in light of the Super Bowl, using as a basis this week's lectionary psalm reading. In addition, there are team comments, related illustrations, worship resources, and a children's sermon.
Prayer for Public Consumption?
By Carter Shelley
Psalm 62:5-12
According to a recent article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, some Florida State football players, on the eve of playing the University of Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, planned to stay in their hotel, bow their heads and, under the leadership of their team chaplain, "pray in" the new year.
Similarly, before the game started, the Georgia Bulldogs gathered in the locker room, where one player shouted, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" His teammates were to reply, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"
Both of these activities came about because of the Christian beliefs of coaches Mark Richt and Bobby Bowden, and pregame prayers are not the end of it. In the Bulldogs' home locker room, there are Bibles present, with the words "God's Game Plan" on each book's cover. In the middle of the room hangs a large poster quoting John 3:16, which links to Ga. 316, the team's road to the SEC championship game in Atlanta, and the Bulldogs' "Road to Glory." Each player has been given a T-shirt with the same verse and link printed on it.1
While such public religious expression may not be evident at this Sunday's Super Bowl game, it's certain many prayers will be offered before and during this match between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders. In fact, Super Bowl Sunday causes many churches to alter our Sunday afternoon and evening programs in order to accommodate this annual, super athletic event. Even those of us who are not avid football fans or players know enough to acknowledge the day and make adjustments accordingly. We also know that there are certain rituals that accompany this event: the singing of the national anthem by some well-known performer, the clever commercials that may become a part of our pop culture consciousness, the spectacular Super Bowl halftime show. While a prayer may no longer be televised just prior to the national anthem and the start of the game, it will surprise none of us to know that a lot of praying probably took place before the two teams ever left their locker rooms, just as a lot of praying took place before Georgia and Florida State played each other in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's evening.
As Americans, most of us do not find it odd to watch athletes join in a pregame huddle to pray. Many of us who serve as ministers or coaches have been invited to pray prior to an athletic event such as a high school football or basketball game. What we pray at those moments may vary according to our understanding of the purpose and function of prayer:
* "Lord, give me the strength to play well and to win."
* "Oh, God, protect our opponents. Bless them, and strengthen their relationship with Jesus. In his name we pray. Amen"2
* "Gracious God, we pray that all players will be a credit to you and will play with honesty, integrity and as a team united for your glory and not our own."
* "Savior Jesus, tonight we pray that no one may be injured, no profanities uttered, and that all may leave this place conscious of the physical joy you give us through exercise and competition."
Due to issues of freedom of speech and separation of church and state, the practice of prayer before school and public athletic events has kept the United States courts busy. In 1963 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against "mandated daily school prayer ... which by extension applied to formal prayers at school football games and the like whenever prayer was organized by school officials." In 1989 the 11th Circuit Court "let stand a lower ruling which found that pregame invocations by coaches, officials or students at high school football games were unconsitutional" because they infringed on other participants' rights. In 1995 in a Texas court ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit "found that informal student-initiated, student-led prayers at sporting events were constitutional. They found that students 'are not enjoined from praying, either individually or in groups. Students may voluntarily pray together, provided such prayer is not done with school participation or supervision.'"3
Those who object to public prayers at athletic events state that it violates a basic American right, the freedom to choose one's own religion. They argue that church and state matters must remain separate and distinct. Strong feeling is expressed that prayers uttered at football games often have an ulterior motive. "I don't want those performing the prayer to try and 'convert' me to their way of thinking," writes Steve Bucaro. "What I'm not for is" a religious person praying at a public event "with the intention of forcing those beliefs upon others. If we allow this, then we are legitimizing those beliefs and saying that that is the right way to think or act. We are saying, 'if it's good enough for the government, then it's good enough for you,' and that's wrong. That's why the Supreme Court in 1962 outlawed organized prayer in schools and in 1992 barred clergymen [sic] from leading benedictions at public-school graduation ceremonies. It is also why the Supreme Court overwhelmingly rejected the notion of organized prayer at football games. The government and public arenas are not there to say which religion or belief is the right one, they're there to make sure you have the right to choose."4
A less often heard from Christian minority objects to prayers at athletic events for several other reasons: 1) such prayers seem to ask God to "take sides"; 2) such prayers go against Jesus' own injunction in Matthew that we "not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners"; and 3) such prayers seem a trivialization of the act of prayer. These reasons offer the focus for today's message.
Of the prayer examples offered earlier, two appear to ask God to take a side and choose one team over the other: "Lord, give me the strength to play well and to win" and "Oh, God, protect our opponents. Bless them, and strengthen their relationship with Jesus." Prayers such as these are known as petitionary prayers. In the first prayer, the athlete prays for fortitude and victory. In the second prayer, the athletes pray for the welfare of their opponents, both on the field and in their religious life -- which some of us might consider highly appropriate, while others among us might declare with Steve Bucaro that such a prayer invades the individual's right to choose his or her own faith system.
Petitionary prayers "ask God to change things," writes George Buttrick.5 We know that. We've utilized it ourselves at times of illness, loss or great emotional need. Yet, as the wording of the first brief prayer suggests, such prayers uttered by members of opposing teams ask God to choose a winner and a loser. We know from history that both Union and Confederate ministers prayed for victory for their side in the Civil War. We know today that there are faithful Muslims, Jews and Christians all praying for God to change the current political and geographical circumstances in Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other tense spots in the world, and we know that the prayers of all of these people cannot be granted, because the aims and wishes of the different petitioners are in direct contradiction. Unless the prayers we pray change, it is not possible for all players to win in the Middle East, in war, or in a college or Super Bowl game.
We also know that prayers uttered out of our own will do not always coincide with God's will. Thus, some petitionary prayers are answered with a divine "Yes," some petitionary prayers are answered with a divine "No," while other petitionary prayers seem as though they were never to be heard at all. The solitary psalmist crying out his despair to God in verses 1-4 of Psalm 62 seeks vindication and validation from his God in the face of persecution and abuse from his fellow human beings. Yet by the time today's lectionary verses, 5-12, are offered, this same grief-stricken, despairing, persecuted mortal has found something far greater than vindication or revenge. He has found God, and in finding God he has found a level of peace and serenity impossible from any earthly source. "My soul is still only if turned to God." Artur Weiser writes in his commentary on The Psalms:
This confession, which is the fruit of the wrestling of his soul in prayer, is in itself one of the finest testimonies in the Psalms to the true spirit of prayer. The thoughts of the worshiper have turned away from the contemplation of his human sorrows and afflictions and are wholly focused on God; he no longer sees anything but God who is his helper, his rock and his fortress.6
Now the psalmist's life is based on a new and firm foundation (v. 6), the foundation of God's power and grace. Thus the psalmist "calls upon his fellow believers to commune with God in prayer, with the same unrestrained candor and resultant trust in God which for himself represents the elemental force of his new life: 'Pour out your heart before him!'"7
Trust is an essential element in this psalm, and the poet who prays it realizes that "in the presence of God the things which are emphasized and the standards which are employed are entirely different from those which usually carry weight in ordinary life."8 Thus the psalmist's petitionary prayer has been answered, but not with either a divine yes or no with reference to his social persecution or personal loneliness. Much like Job, the psalmist has been answered with something far greater: the reality of God. The poet also endeavors to turn men's eyes away from the power which wealth confers upon man; for it is the wrong way of looking at life when man allows himself to be deceived by outward appearances and runs after the merely spectacular; the psalmist knows from his own experience that such an outlook is bound to end in disappointment because it disregards the relatedness of life.
That relatedness is not based upon human competition and victory or anything as mundane as a petition to win a crucial football game or tennis match. Rather such relatedness connects the psalmist to God and simultaneously connects the psalmist with other people in a mutually trusting relationship that is based upon trust in God's power and grace. "These ultimate fundamental truths hold good only in the life of a man who keeps his soul turned to God and continually opens up his heart to him."9
If we began with the idea of petitionary prayer as a request for God to take sides in an athletic, political or military event, we learn instead from the poet of Psalm 62 the only side that really matters is beside God, and when we have that level of insight, that level of intimacy, we are no longer capable of praying for victory and superiority over former foes, for we discover, as goes the spiritual, that "we are one in the spirit; we are one in the Lord."
Paul's concerns about the passing away of the existing world of first-century Rome echo the sentiments of the psalmist. Jesus Christ's presence on earth alters everything for the believer. The ordinary ways of living, relating, marrying and long-term planning are no longer relevant. Hence, in his first letter to the Corinthians "Paul calls man [sic] to a radical adaptation of the form of his life in the face of radical changes in the form of the world."10 F. F. Bruce agrees with Ruef's reading of 1 Corinthians 7:28-31:
The Christian should as far as possible live in this age as though the age to come were already here, regulating life by its values and not by those current among "the sons of this age." The values of this age are transient and relative; those of the age to come are permanent and absolute.11
Both the psalmist and Paul are one in calling upon the faithful to focus upon God and not this world, which cannot be trusted in its values, actions, and ambitions. "The world with its opportunities and resources is there to be used, but it is unwise to put all one's eggs into the basket of an order whose present form is passing away."12 After the victory is won and the game is over, how often do the participants ask, "Is that all there is?" For the Christian whose prayer life is grounded in God rather than in self, the answer is "Heavens no! That is not all there is. There is more, much, much more. There is God. There is Christ. There is the presence and comfort of the Holy Spirit."
Prayers at sports events often seemed specifically designed for public consumption. They are part of the ritual, part of the show. In Matthew 6:5-6 Jesus criticizes public prayer that exists primarily to celebrate the piety of the supplicant. "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." When the purpose of a prayer rests more with the impression it makes on other people than on the relationship between the individual and God, the prayer ceases to function as a prayer. A recent Manchester Guardian article reported on the tradition of soccer "players blessing themselves before taking a penalty kick or after scoring a goal." This practice is described as being "as much a part of the global football tradition as insulting the referee." The Scottish Parliament wants to banish the sign of the cross from football grounds across the country not because Scotland is a predominantly Protestant country. The problem stems from "the religious gesture being used 'provocatively' by players or fans to rile opponents." The two teams identified as the most polarized and contentious were the Roman Catholic Celtics and the Protestant Rangers.13 If that's the primary motivation for a public display of piety, such as making the sign of the cross before tossing a free-throw or pulverizing the quarterback on the next play, then God's will and God's way are not foremost in the heart or mind of that particular athlete or fan.
That is why Jesus' words about prayer for show are followed with the words of the Lord's Prayer, which stands as a model for proper petitionary prayer. Important needs are placed before God: the need for daily bread and the need to resist temptation and evil. Yet even these central needs are prefaced with a recognition on Jesus' part that all faithful prayers to God rest upon the will and way of God remaining primary no matter what the human situation may be. Remember the opening words are: "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." The prayer offered earlier that best fits into this model is the one that prays: "Gracious God, we pray that all players will be a credit to you and will play with honesty, integrity and as a team united for your glory and not our own."
Canadian theologian Douglas John Hall would aver that this simple prayer fits into Hall's notion of "consecrated worldliness." By consecrated worldliness, Hall does not mean some pagan notion of pleasure-seeking and concentrated celebration of the things of the flesh, nor does Hall point to the Gnostic opposite that would celebrate only the soul and label all human physical experiences sinful and dangerous to our relationship with God. Hall understands the material world to be God's creation. Thus to live in this world, to be of this world and an active participant in it, is a positive and beautiful thing intended for us by God.
Who created us with the ability to touch, to taste, to smell? Who created us with the ability to run, to jump, to build muscles, to breathe, and to laugh? Understanding this world and ourselves as created by God and consecrated by God leads us to recognize the holiness in everything we are and do, and that includes sports events. Understood in this light, a prayer such as this one offered earlier sounds profound, not trite: "Savior Jesus, tonight we pray that no one may be injured, no profanities uttered, and that all may leave this place conscious of the physical joy you give us through exercise and competition." It is a glorious and positive thing to live in this world so long as we recognize the world is ruled by God and do not allow the world's worldliness to rule us. (That's an ongoing challenge for athletes who are fabulously wealthy due to their athletic skills and powers.)
Hall uses the words of Philippians 4:6 ("Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God") to stress the importance of "being who we are" as "the first requirement of prayer."14 Before God, we do not have to assume identities and postures that are forced or foreign to our essential makeup. Nor do we have to be concerned to observe this or that formality, avoid this or that pitfall, always doing the right thing for the right reason in the right way. All the same, biblical faith enjoins us to avoid certain types of prayer, just as it cautions us to eschew certain beliefs and activities. Not everything that people do in the name of prayer is simply condoned. Even when it is entirely sincere, prayer is sometimes inappropriate.
A seven-year-old praying that God will make her little sister disappear or a baseball coach praying that the other team's best pitcher will injure his arm and be unable to play both offer prayers no more appropriate than the public prayer display offered by pious hypocrites that Jesus cites in Matthew 6.
Hall identifies five forms of inappropriate prayer, citing prayers that: 1) help one escape from reality; 2) that turn us in upon ourselves and leave us there; 3) that fail to represent our fellow-creatures, especially those in need; 4) that are merely emotional or lacking in serious, disciplined thought; and 5) do not lead to responsible acts of discipleship.15 Who among us hasn't uttered such prayers at one time or other in our lives? Who among us hasn't heard such prayers offered at sports events, political rallies, or at personality-driven religious crusades?
Here is a suggested prayer for Super Bowl Sunday:
Lord God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, Parent of Our Lord Jesus, Partner with Our Comforter, the Spirit, we thank you for the fun and excitement of sports events such as the Super Bowl game today. May we who watch it and they who play it be stewards of this wonderful world you have created, and may we celebrate with one another the physical and emotional joy that being human allows us to feel. Beyond that, may this prayer and all of our prayers be in keeping with the words Jesus taught us to pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
But rescue us from the evil one.
Notes
1 Michelle Hiskey, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 31, 2002.
2 A paraphrase of Cindy Johnson and Lois Pottenger, http://www.prayebeforeyouplay.com/pr_stu.html.
3 http://www.religioustolerance.org/ps_prab.htm.
4 Bucaro, http://www.fictionfunhouse.com/butidigress/prayer.htm.
5 Buttrick, Prayer, 79.
6 Artur Weiser, The Psalms (Westminster Press, 1962), 446-447.
7 Weiser, 450.
8 Weiser, 451.
9 Weiser, 452.
10 John Ruef, Paul's First Letter to Corinth, (Penguin Books, 1971), 64.
11 1 and 2 Corinthians (Oliphants, 1971), 75.
12 F.F. Bruce, 75.
13 Gerard Seenan, Manchester Guardian, January 7, 2003.
14 When You Pray: Thinking Your Way into God's World (Judson Press, 1987), 130.
15 Hall, 131.
Team Comments
George Murphy responds: Some distinctions are needed. Christians pray for Muslims to accept Christ, and Muslims pray for Christians to accept Islam. It seems to me that we can respect the sincerity of the latter prayer but that, if we believe that Christianity really is true, we ought to be praying the former one. Surely we shouldn't be dissuaded from praying for something simply because we know that someone else is praying for the opposite thing. But with a football game we can't say "with the certainty of faith" that Oakland should win.
Inclusion of "Thy will be done" - whether implicit or explicit - is crucial here. We can pray for what we think is best if we recognize that God really knows what is best.
I recall the scene in the film Patton in which, during the Battle of the Bulge, an army chaplain is taken aback (but finally accedes) to Patton's demand for a prayer for victory. Was that inappropriate? Knowing even then what was known about Nazism - and even more today - I would find it hard to say so.
Regarding the Weiser quote that "The thoughts of the worshiper have turned away from the contemplation of his human sorrows and afflictions and are wholly focused on God; he no longer sees anything but God who is his helper, his rock and his fortress," I would add that in some of the psalms of complaint the psalmist comes very close to arguing with God about what should happen.
Regarding your comment that "That relatedness is not based upon human competition and victory or anything as mundane as a petition to win a crucial football game or tennis match," we need to avoid the suggestion that God is just too busy to be bothered with things like football games.
You write, "After the victory is won and the game is over, how often do the participants ask, 'Is that all there is?'" One sports column that stuck in my mind when I was playing high school football posed this question: Often teams pray before a game, but how many of the players or coaches breathe a prayer of thanks after the game?
You also mentioned that the Scottish Parliament wants to banish the sign of the cross from football grounds across the country not because Scotland is a predominantly Protestant country. Maybe in Scotland the sign of the cross is seen as distinctively Roman but it isn't. Many Lutherans and Anglicans (as well as Orthodox, of course) do it. Luther's direction for morning prayer begins "When you arise, make the sign of the holy cross ..."
The real theological problem, however, is the superstitious use of such a practice which in itself is okay. The same could be said for prayer. I just finished reading a German novel set in the 18th century in which, during a severe thunderstorm, the family all kneels in the living room and begins to pray "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God..." I believe that was a common practice in some parts of Europe. And how many mechanical recitations of the Lord's Prayer are of the same type?
Larry Hard responds: Good sermon! There are abundant resources in this sermon, many links to sites, specific examples of prayers rather than just abstractions about prayer, and more than enough materials from which a preacher can select.
Since the Super Bowl is the event of the day, one could begin the sermon by asking the congregation three questions: How many of you will be watching the game today? How many of you care who wins today? How many of you believe the game is something fans or players should pray about? There are additional ways to involve congregational response, including some that would evoke laughter.
Jonathon Smith responds: Organized or programmed prayer at public/sporting events is an issue that will probably never be resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. The Christian in me says that prayer should always be a part of everything we do ("pray constantly"), and as a Christian of course my prayers would be directed to Jesus. But at the same time I am a firm believer in religious freedom and I always wonder how those of other faiths feel when they attend or are involved in public events where organized or programmed prayer is clearly Christian. Should the organized prayer include prayers from other faiths as well as the Christian faith? But as a Christian, I certainly would not want to take part in prayer to any other god.
I do wonder though if at least having a period of silent contemplation before such events might hopefully result in fewer mass riots at soccer games or fewer fans/parents running onto the field to attack the referees or coaches!!
Related Illustrations
Here's a story called "Golf Justice" that made the e-mail round a while back:
The Reverend Francis Norton woke up Sunday morning and, realizing it was an exceptionally beautiful and sunny early spring day, decided he just had to play golf. So... he told the associate pastor that he was feeling sick and convinced him to say Mass for him that day. As soon as the associate pastor left the room, Father Norton headed out of town to a golf course about 40 miles away. This way he knew he wouldn't accidentally meet anyone he knew from his parish.
Setting up on the first tee, he was alone. After all, it was Sunday morning and everyone else was in church!
At about this time, Saint Peter leaned over to the Lord while looking down from the heavens and exclaimed, "You're not going to let him get away with this, are you?"
The Lord sighed and said, "No, I guess not."
Just then Father Norton hit the ball and it shot straight toward the pin, dropping just short of it, rolled up and fell into the hole. IT WAS A 420-YARD HOLE-IN-ONE!
St. Peter was astonished. He looked at the Lord and asked, "Why did you let him do that?"
The Lord smiled and replied, "Who's he going to tell?"
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The 2002 Brown Center Report on American Education indicates that athletes tend to have higher earnings than nonathletes in the 10 to 15 years after high school graduation. Here's why, according to the report:
From the human capital perspective, high school sports enhance an individual's stock of productive resources. Athletes may learn self-discipline, how to follow directions, perseverance, and how to set goals, a valuable set of skills for success in college and the workplace.
Another explanation focuses on social capital. High school sports ... bring parents of athletes into close contact, and create dense social networks around youngsters ... If an athlete decides to do something stupid, it is likely that an adult will hear about it and have a chance to intervene. Non-athletes ... often pass through school anonymously ... Kids who go out for a team sport may be intrinsically different than others - more ambitious, harder working, more confident in themselves. Signaled of the likelihood that a person possesses these traits, educators and employers reward athletes with good grades, admission to college, good jobs, and high wages.
(The Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution, www.brookings.edu/dybdocroot/gs/brown/brown_hp.htm)
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Just as many parents expected, athletics prove to be valuable for children's development. Playing team sports is linked to improving grades through high school and a higher likelihood of finishing college, says Jacquelynne Eccles, a professor at the University of Michigan, based on a 14-year study of 1,800 young people. Far more U.S. teens play sports than in Europe or east Asia, and the number is growing all the time.
But in a new twist, Dr. Eccles has found a point of diminishing returns for young athletes. The benefits of sports don't increase with the number of sports played, she says. On top of that, she notes, other extracurricular activities - anything from drama to pep clubs to volunteer groups - offer kids many of the same benefits. She recommends a diversified portfolio of activities - under that scenario, there's no sign of diminishing returns. The studies control for standardized-test scores, gender and mothers' education.
(Sue Shellenbarger, "Making Time to Veg: Parents Find Their Kids Need Life Balance as Well," The Wall Street Journal, September 26, 2002, D1.)
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A Word From The Coach: I'm just a plowhand from Arkansas, but I have learned how to hold a team together. How to lift some men up, how to calm down others, until finally they've got one heartbeat together, a team. There's just three things I'd ever say:
If anything goes bad, I did it.
If anything goes semi-good, then we did it.
If anything goes real good, then you did it.
That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you.
- Bear Bryant
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In Joyce Carol Oates' review of The Picador Book of Sportswriting, she commented, "Decades ago, when the distinguished American philosopher George Santayana observed, 'Another world to live in is what we mean by religion,' he could not have anticipated how, for many millions of his countrymen, as for yet more millions throughout the world, what he meant by 'religion' would one day be displaced in the most immediate, existential, and emotional sense by spectator sports."
(Times Literary Supplement, July 12, 1996)
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New York City's Cathedral of St. John the Divine is the largest Gothic cathedral in North America.
From a distance every stained-glass window in the majestic building looks as traditional and reverent as any in the world. However, one window is quite different from the rest.
The inspiration for this unique window came when the daughter of a former bishop of New York attended the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924. She was so impressed with the sporting events that she convinced her father, William Manning, to devote one stained-glass window in the cathedral to sports. Viewed from a distance it looks like any of the other beautiful windows, but when seen up close one sees a window with scenes of baseball, tennis, auto racing, and other sports on it!
Like St. John's stained-glass windows, members of the Body of Christ may appear to be very much alike, but a closer look reveals how unique we are. Each one of us has special abilities that enable us to do the work for God that only we can do.
(The Upper Room, August 6, 1984)
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In researching a best-selling book on running, the late Jim Fixx was struck by the way devotees described their commitment to the sport as a "conversion experience." The wife of one pilgrim of plod told him: "Tom used to be a Methodist; now he's a runner."
(Christianity Today, April 4, 1986, 20.)
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Mark A. Noll, writing in the Reformed Journal, points out that historians of American higher education note that in the last third of the 19th century two things happened when colleges introduced intercollegiate sports. One was a marked decline in religious revivals on campuses; the other was a similar reduction in random student rioting. Enthusiasm for sports seems to have replaced both an enthusiasm for God and an enthusiasm for bashing other people around. Not an ideal trade-off, Noll observes, but it has its points.
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In the midst of a Nebraska drought, some thirsty soul sent the following prayer to the Lincoln Journal and Star:
O Lord, send us and our dusty neighbors around the world a good soaking rain of about one and a half inches over a 15-hour period, at the rate of no more than a tenth of an inch per hour, preferably at night; and repeat once a week through April 15, with the exception of three weeks appropriate for spring planting; and thereafter, once every two weeks until the soil-moisture deficit has been eliminated, or until the farmers wish it would stop, whichever comes first. Amen.
Worship Resources
By Chuck Cammarata
Call to Worship
(sung a cappella; the tune for this little chorus is in most contemporary hymnals)
I love you lord - and I lift my voice
To worship you - O my soul rejoice
Take joy my king - in what you hear
May it be a sweet - sweet sound in your ear.
An Alternative Call to Worship
Leader: Pray or don't pray,
People: YAHWEH IS GOD.
Leader: Obey or don't obey,
People: YAHWEH IS GOD.
Leader: Sing or don't sing,
People: YAHWEH IS GOD.
Leader: Give thanks or don't give thanks,
People: YAHWEH IS KING.
Leader: Yesterday, today, and tomorrow;
People: AT THE BEGINNING;
Leader: And at the end;
People: THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD;
Leader: Through victory and defeat;
People: IN LIFE,
Leader: And in death:
People: YAHWEH IS GOD!
Leader: Let us praise the God who is always God.
People: HALLELUJAH!
Leader: Amen!
Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Pardon
Leader: Gotta get to church!
People: GOTTA LOOK GOOD!
Leader: Gotta have a big smile.
People: GOTTA PLAY THE GAME.
Leader: The "Got it all together" game.
People: BECAUSE GOOD CHRISTIANS
Leader: Got it all together.
People: YES, WE DO. GOT IT ALL TOGETHER.
Leader: But you know what?
People: WHAT?
Leader: I don't have it all together.
People: REALLY!
Leader: Really. There's lots I struggle with. Thoughts I think - actions I take - things I should do but don't. Even after all these years in Christ, I'm sorry to say, I still don't have it all together.
People: GUESS WHAT?
Leader: What?
People: I DON'T HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER EITHER.
Leader: Really?
People: REALLY!
Leader: So, I guess we're just the church of those who don't got it all together.
People: I GUESS SO.
Leader: But that's okay; we don't have to have it all together.
People: WHY NOT?
Leader: Because Jesus got it together for us, and all those who are in Christ have his togetherness.
People: PRAISE GOD.
Leader: Yeah - Praise God!
Response
(The tune for "Sing Alleluia" is also in many contemporary hymnals. It can also be found in "The Tune Book," a collection of songs edited by Yo Anderson and used by many Cursillo communities, both Roman Catholic and Protestant.)
Sing alleluia to the Lord. Sing alleluia to the Lord.
Sing alleluia, sing alleluia, Sing alleluia to the Lord.
Jesus has taken all our sin. Jesus has taken all our sin.
Jesus has taken, Jesus has taken, Jesus has taken all our sin.
He's given us all his righteousness. He's given us all his righteousness
He's given us all, given us all, given us all his righteousness.
An Alternative Prayer of Confession
Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we are to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve. Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer*, 1979,. 234.)
Pastoral Prayer
Our pastoral prayers are sometimes seen as the most boring part of the service by the people in the pews. A chance to get a few winks before the sermon. Doing some simple things to help the body be more attentive and focused can really be a help during this time, so try this simple practice now and then. Have those who are able stand during the prayer, and ask the members in each pew to get close enough to hold hands as you lead them in prayer. It's a small thing, but different enough to get their attention.
Just remember - don't make it a 10-minute prayer or you'll have people toppling over in the pews.
Hymns
"What a Friend We Have in Jesus"
"Sweet Hour of Prayer"
"In the Garden"
"I Must Tell Jesus"
Choruses and Contemporary Songs
Where You Are - one of the most beautiful contemporary songs is by the group FFH. It is a cry to be where God is. Meditative and haunting, it can be sung as a solo or as a congregational song. It can be found on the CD "City on a Hill," and there is an accompanying songbook.
Surely the Presence of the Lord Is in This Place - can be found in the Kairos Songbook and in the Tune Book mentioned above;
As the Deer - in most contemporary hymnals
In the Secret - a song about going to that secret place to be with God. Written and sung by the contemporary group Third Day. Any good religious bookstore will be able to get the music for you.
Miniskit (Based on the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican)
On the stage area one man is seated near the rear of the area. He is dressed a bit shabbily. He is bent over, head in hands. An occasional sigh comes from him. He looks to heaven with sorrow on his face. Then his head goes back into his hands. Another man enters. This man is dressed to the hilt. Suit, tie, polished shoes, not a hair out of place. He looks at the seated man. His face registers contempt. He moves to the front of the area. Looking over his shoulder he says in a loud whisper, "Thank you, Lord, that I am not like this guy." He then faces forward, raises his hands to the heavens, and begins to pray loudly, "God of all creation. Maker of sun, moon, and stars. Maker of me. Thank you for making me as you have. A man of integrity. A tither. A righteous follower of all your ways."
The man in the seat is now watching this man pray. He looks even sadder. He watches as the well-dressed man turns and leaves the area with a certain confidence. After the well-dressed man is gone he looks to the heavens once more and cries out in despair, "O Lord, have mercy on me for I am a sinner." Then his head drops back into his hands and he sobs.
If the preacher wishes, he or she may ask the congregation at this point, "Which of these men offered a true prayer? Jesus said it was the poor sinner, for he knew his need for God, and he revealed his heart to God. The other man simply told God of his qualifications."
This is prayer, the sharing of the heart with the one who made us and loves us.
Children's Sermon
By Wesley Runk
Psalm 62:5-17
Text: "Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord." (vv. 11-12)
Object: A huddle like in a football game
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you know what important name is given to this Sunday? (let them answer) Is it All Saints' Sunday? (let them answer) Is it Easter Sunday? (let them answer) Is it Christian Unity Sunday? (let them answer) It's not any of these, is it? So why is this Sunday so important? (let them answer) No one here can guess, but I think a lot of your parents could tell me what important event is going to happen this Sunday!
Today is Super Bowl Sunday! Do you know what happens today? (let them answer) That's right; today is the big football game that we have been hearing all about for weeks, even months. Every year the two best football teams meet for a big showdown and the winner is declared the champion professional football team for the year 2003. These teams have played since last August and have practiced since last July, and now on the last Sunday in January they will play the final game for this season.
We will see a lot of things today, including the football game. But two things you will probably not see are the things that I would like to talk about today. How many of you know the word "huddle"? (let them answer) Very good, it is when the team on the field gets in a circle and the quarterback tells the team what the next play is going to be. Why don't we get in a huddle and see what it looks like when you are inside the huddle? (have the children huddle) It's kind of a neat way to talk to one another, isn't it?
The quarterback can tell the other players if it is a running play or a passing play and who he wants to carry the ball or receive the pass. Things don't always work out the way the quarterback wants them to because there is a defense on the other side of the line that is trying to spoil their plan. But it doesn't make any difference, because they are going to huddle for the next play, and the next play. When it works out the way the quarterback wants it to work, then lots of good things happen, including a touchdown. Touchdowns are great! Have you ever watched the player who scored the touchdown? (let them answer) Sometimes he does a special dance. Sometimes he jumps into the crowd of fans who are cheering for him. Sometimes he spikes the ball by throwing it very hard into the ground. Sometimes he runs around the end zone with his one finger pointing up to heaven. We don't know why he is pointing but he does it anyway. Once in a while the player who scored the touchdown just hands the ball to the referee and walks back to his bench. That doesn't happen very often, but it is the way I like the best.
Anyway, I want to tell you about two other huddles that take place at a game. One is before the game and one is after the game. The first huddle has only players from the same team. They get together and they bow their heads and they pray that God will be with them, that they play a good game and that no one is injured. It is a team prayer. The players like this huddle and they do it before every game. They know that the real power belongs to God, and they want to share that power and do their best.
The second huddle is after the game. This time some players from each team huddle on the field. They also pray to God and thank God for being with them and for sharing his love with both sides, the winners and the losers. They tell God what a hard-fought game it was but also how much they learned in playing the game. They pray that they will live safely to play another game. These are real things that happen before and after every game. No one will describe it on TV or tell you about it, but all of the coaches are with the team before the game and some of the players and coaches pray after the game.
The Bible teaches us that God speaks and God has all of the power but that he shares with people who love him, even football players playing in the biggest game of the year. The last huddle after every game is a prayer huddle to thank God for his presence. Amen.
The Immediate Word, January 26, 2003 issue.
Copyright 2002 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 permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., P.O. Box 4503, Lima, Ohio 45802-4503.
With January 26 being Super Bowl Sunday, is there likely to be a more common topic in the national consciousness? Here at The Immediate Word, we think the occasion provides a good opportunity to talk about prayer (just think about how much public and private praying goes on at sporting events!).
So in this installment, we've asked Immediate Word team member Carter Shelley to consider the matter in light of the Super Bowl, using as a basis this week's lectionary psalm reading. In addition, there are team comments, related illustrations, worship resources, and a children's sermon.
Prayer for Public Consumption?
By Carter Shelley
Psalm 62:5-12
According to a recent article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, some Florida State football players, on the eve of playing the University of Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, planned to stay in their hotel, bow their heads and, under the leadership of their team chaplain, "pray in" the new year.
Similarly, before the game started, the Georgia Bulldogs gathered in the locker room, where one player shouted, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" His teammates were to reply, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"
Both of these activities came about because of the Christian beliefs of coaches Mark Richt and Bobby Bowden, and pregame prayers are not the end of it. In the Bulldogs' home locker room, there are Bibles present, with the words "God's Game Plan" on each book's cover. In the middle of the room hangs a large poster quoting John 3:16, which links to Ga. 316, the team's road to the SEC championship game in Atlanta, and the Bulldogs' "Road to Glory." Each player has been given a T-shirt with the same verse and link printed on it.1
While such public religious expression may not be evident at this Sunday's Super Bowl game, it's certain many prayers will be offered before and during this match between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders. In fact, Super Bowl Sunday causes many churches to alter our Sunday afternoon and evening programs in order to accommodate this annual, super athletic event. Even those of us who are not avid football fans or players know enough to acknowledge the day and make adjustments accordingly. We also know that there are certain rituals that accompany this event: the singing of the national anthem by some well-known performer, the clever commercials that may become a part of our pop culture consciousness, the spectacular Super Bowl halftime show. While a prayer may no longer be televised just prior to the national anthem and the start of the game, it will surprise none of us to know that a lot of praying probably took place before the two teams ever left their locker rooms, just as a lot of praying took place before Georgia and Florida State played each other in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's evening.
As Americans, most of us do not find it odd to watch athletes join in a pregame huddle to pray. Many of us who serve as ministers or coaches have been invited to pray prior to an athletic event such as a high school football or basketball game. What we pray at those moments may vary according to our understanding of the purpose and function of prayer:
* "Lord, give me the strength to play well and to win."
* "Oh, God, protect our opponents. Bless them, and strengthen their relationship with Jesus. In his name we pray. Amen"2
* "Gracious God, we pray that all players will be a credit to you and will play with honesty, integrity and as a team united for your glory and not our own."
* "Savior Jesus, tonight we pray that no one may be injured, no profanities uttered, and that all may leave this place conscious of the physical joy you give us through exercise and competition."
Due to issues of freedom of speech and separation of church and state, the practice of prayer before school and public athletic events has kept the United States courts busy. In 1963 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against "mandated daily school prayer ... which by extension applied to formal prayers at school football games and the like whenever prayer was organized by school officials." In 1989 the 11th Circuit Court "let stand a lower ruling which found that pregame invocations by coaches, officials or students at high school football games were unconsitutional" because they infringed on other participants' rights. In 1995 in a Texas court ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit "found that informal student-initiated, student-led prayers at sporting events were constitutional. They found that students 'are not enjoined from praying, either individually or in groups. Students may voluntarily pray together, provided such prayer is not done with school participation or supervision.'"3
Those who object to public prayers at athletic events state that it violates a basic American right, the freedom to choose one's own religion. They argue that church and state matters must remain separate and distinct. Strong feeling is expressed that prayers uttered at football games often have an ulterior motive. "I don't want those performing the prayer to try and 'convert' me to their way of thinking," writes Steve Bucaro. "What I'm not for is" a religious person praying at a public event "with the intention of forcing those beliefs upon others. If we allow this, then we are legitimizing those beliefs and saying that that is the right way to think or act. We are saying, 'if it's good enough for the government, then it's good enough for you,' and that's wrong. That's why the Supreme Court in 1962 outlawed organized prayer in schools and in 1992 barred clergymen [sic] from leading benedictions at public-school graduation ceremonies. It is also why the Supreme Court overwhelmingly rejected the notion of organized prayer at football games. The government and public arenas are not there to say which religion or belief is the right one, they're there to make sure you have the right to choose."4
A less often heard from Christian minority objects to prayers at athletic events for several other reasons: 1) such prayers seem to ask God to "take sides"; 2) such prayers go against Jesus' own injunction in Matthew that we "not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners"; and 3) such prayers seem a trivialization of the act of prayer. These reasons offer the focus for today's message.
Of the prayer examples offered earlier, two appear to ask God to take a side and choose one team over the other: "Lord, give me the strength to play well and to win" and "Oh, God, protect our opponents. Bless them, and strengthen their relationship with Jesus." Prayers such as these are known as petitionary prayers. In the first prayer, the athlete prays for fortitude and victory. In the second prayer, the athletes pray for the welfare of their opponents, both on the field and in their religious life -- which some of us might consider highly appropriate, while others among us might declare with Steve Bucaro that such a prayer invades the individual's right to choose his or her own faith system.
Petitionary prayers "ask God to change things," writes George Buttrick.5 We know that. We've utilized it ourselves at times of illness, loss or great emotional need. Yet, as the wording of the first brief prayer suggests, such prayers uttered by members of opposing teams ask God to choose a winner and a loser. We know from history that both Union and Confederate ministers prayed for victory for their side in the Civil War. We know today that there are faithful Muslims, Jews and Christians all praying for God to change the current political and geographical circumstances in Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other tense spots in the world, and we know that the prayers of all of these people cannot be granted, because the aims and wishes of the different petitioners are in direct contradiction. Unless the prayers we pray change, it is not possible for all players to win in the Middle East, in war, or in a college or Super Bowl game.
We also know that prayers uttered out of our own will do not always coincide with God's will. Thus, some petitionary prayers are answered with a divine "Yes," some petitionary prayers are answered with a divine "No," while other petitionary prayers seem as though they were never to be heard at all. The solitary psalmist crying out his despair to God in verses 1-4 of Psalm 62 seeks vindication and validation from his God in the face of persecution and abuse from his fellow human beings. Yet by the time today's lectionary verses, 5-12, are offered, this same grief-stricken, despairing, persecuted mortal has found something far greater than vindication or revenge. He has found God, and in finding God he has found a level of peace and serenity impossible from any earthly source. "My soul is still only if turned to God." Artur Weiser writes in his commentary on The Psalms:
This confession, which is the fruit of the wrestling of his soul in prayer, is in itself one of the finest testimonies in the Psalms to the true spirit of prayer. The thoughts of the worshiper have turned away from the contemplation of his human sorrows and afflictions and are wholly focused on God; he no longer sees anything but God who is his helper, his rock and his fortress.6
Now the psalmist's life is based on a new and firm foundation (v. 6), the foundation of God's power and grace. Thus the psalmist "calls upon his fellow believers to commune with God in prayer, with the same unrestrained candor and resultant trust in God which for himself represents the elemental force of his new life: 'Pour out your heart before him!'"7
Trust is an essential element in this psalm, and the poet who prays it realizes that "in the presence of God the things which are emphasized and the standards which are employed are entirely different from those which usually carry weight in ordinary life."8 Thus the psalmist's petitionary prayer has been answered, but not with either a divine yes or no with reference to his social persecution or personal loneliness. Much like Job, the psalmist has been answered with something far greater: the reality of God. The poet also endeavors to turn men's eyes away from the power which wealth confers upon man; for it is the wrong way of looking at life when man allows himself to be deceived by outward appearances and runs after the merely spectacular; the psalmist knows from his own experience that such an outlook is bound to end in disappointment because it disregards the relatedness of life.
That relatedness is not based upon human competition and victory or anything as mundane as a petition to win a crucial football game or tennis match. Rather such relatedness connects the psalmist to God and simultaneously connects the psalmist with other people in a mutually trusting relationship that is based upon trust in God's power and grace. "These ultimate fundamental truths hold good only in the life of a man who keeps his soul turned to God and continually opens up his heart to him."9
If we began with the idea of petitionary prayer as a request for God to take sides in an athletic, political or military event, we learn instead from the poet of Psalm 62 the only side that really matters is beside God, and when we have that level of insight, that level of intimacy, we are no longer capable of praying for victory and superiority over former foes, for we discover, as goes the spiritual, that "we are one in the spirit; we are one in the Lord."
Paul's concerns about the passing away of the existing world of first-century Rome echo the sentiments of the psalmist. Jesus Christ's presence on earth alters everything for the believer. The ordinary ways of living, relating, marrying and long-term planning are no longer relevant. Hence, in his first letter to the Corinthians "Paul calls man [sic] to a radical adaptation of the form of his life in the face of radical changes in the form of the world."10 F. F. Bruce agrees with Ruef's reading of 1 Corinthians 7:28-31:
The Christian should as far as possible live in this age as though the age to come were already here, regulating life by its values and not by those current among "the sons of this age." The values of this age are transient and relative; those of the age to come are permanent and absolute.11
Both the psalmist and Paul are one in calling upon the faithful to focus upon God and not this world, which cannot be trusted in its values, actions, and ambitions. "The world with its opportunities and resources is there to be used, but it is unwise to put all one's eggs into the basket of an order whose present form is passing away."12 After the victory is won and the game is over, how often do the participants ask, "Is that all there is?" For the Christian whose prayer life is grounded in God rather than in self, the answer is "Heavens no! That is not all there is. There is more, much, much more. There is God. There is Christ. There is the presence and comfort of the Holy Spirit."
Prayers at sports events often seemed specifically designed for public consumption. They are part of the ritual, part of the show. In Matthew 6:5-6 Jesus criticizes public prayer that exists primarily to celebrate the piety of the supplicant. "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." When the purpose of a prayer rests more with the impression it makes on other people than on the relationship between the individual and God, the prayer ceases to function as a prayer. A recent Manchester Guardian article reported on the tradition of soccer "players blessing themselves before taking a penalty kick or after scoring a goal." This practice is described as being "as much a part of the global football tradition as insulting the referee." The Scottish Parliament wants to banish the sign of the cross from football grounds across the country not because Scotland is a predominantly Protestant country. The problem stems from "the religious gesture being used 'provocatively' by players or fans to rile opponents." The two teams identified as the most polarized and contentious were the Roman Catholic Celtics and the Protestant Rangers.13 If that's the primary motivation for a public display of piety, such as making the sign of the cross before tossing a free-throw or pulverizing the quarterback on the next play, then God's will and God's way are not foremost in the heart or mind of that particular athlete or fan.
That is why Jesus' words about prayer for show are followed with the words of the Lord's Prayer, which stands as a model for proper petitionary prayer. Important needs are placed before God: the need for daily bread and the need to resist temptation and evil. Yet even these central needs are prefaced with a recognition on Jesus' part that all faithful prayers to God rest upon the will and way of God remaining primary no matter what the human situation may be. Remember the opening words are: "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." The prayer offered earlier that best fits into this model is the one that prays: "Gracious God, we pray that all players will be a credit to you and will play with honesty, integrity and as a team united for your glory and not our own."
Canadian theologian Douglas John Hall would aver that this simple prayer fits into Hall's notion of "consecrated worldliness." By consecrated worldliness, Hall does not mean some pagan notion of pleasure-seeking and concentrated celebration of the things of the flesh, nor does Hall point to the Gnostic opposite that would celebrate only the soul and label all human physical experiences sinful and dangerous to our relationship with God. Hall understands the material world to be God's creation. Thus to live in this world, to be of this world and an active participant in it, is a positive and beautiful thing intended for us by God.
Who created us with the ability to touch, to taste, to smell? Who created us with the ability to run, to jump, to build muscles, to breathe, and to laugh? Understanding this world and ourselves as created by God and consecrated by God leads us to recognize the holiness in everything we are and do, and that includes sports events. Understood in this light, a prayer such as this one offered earlier sounds profound, not trite: "Savior Jesus, tonight we pray that no one may be injured, no profanities uttered, and that all may leave this place conscious of the physical joy you give us through exercise and competition." It is a glorious and positive thing to live in this world so long as we recognize the world is ruled by God and do not allow the world's worldliness to rule us. (That's an ongoing challenge for athletes who are fabulously wealthy due to their athletic skills and powers.)
Hall uses the words of Philippians 4:6 ("Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God") to stress the importance of "being who we are" as "the first requirement of prayer."14 Before God, we do not have to assume identities and postures that are forced or foreign to our essential makeup. Nor do we have to be concerned to observe this or that formality, avoid this or that pitfall, always doing the right thing for the right reason in the right way. All the same, biblical faith enjoins us to avoid certain types of prayer, just as it cautions us to eschew certain beliefs and activities. Not everything that people do in the name of prayer is simply condoned. Even when it is entirely sincere, prayer is sometimes inappropriate.
A seven-year-old praying that God will make her little sister disappear or a baseball coach praying that the other team's best pitcher will injure his arm and be unable to play both offer prayers no more appropriate than the public prayer display offered by pious hypocrites that Jesus cites in Matthew 6.
Hall identifies five forms of inappropriate prayer, citing prayers that: 1) help one escape from reality; 2) that turn us in upon ourselves and leave us there; 3) that fail to represent our fellow-creatures, especially those in need; 4) that are merely emotional or lacking in serious, disciplined thought; and 5) do not lead to responsible acts of discipleship.15 Who among us hasn't uttered such prayers at one time or other in our lives? Who among us hasn't heard such prayers offered at sports events, political rallies, or at personality-driven religious crusades?
Here is a suggested prayer for Super Bowl Sunday:
Lord God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, Parent of Our Lord Jesus, Partner with Our Comforter, the Spirit, we thank you for the fun and excitement of sports events such as the Super Bowl game today. May we who watch it and they who play it be stewards of this wonderful world you have created, and may we celebrate with one another the physical and emotional joy that being human allows us to feel. Beyond that, may this prayer and all of our prayers be in keeping with the words Jesus taught us to pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
But rescue us from the evil one.
Notes
1 Michelle Hiskey, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 31, 2002.
2 A paraphrase of Cindy Johnson and Lois Pottenger, http://www.prayebeforeyouplay.com/pr_stu.html.
3 http://www.religioustolerance.org/ps_prab.htm.
4 Bucaro, http://www.fictionfunhouse.com/butidigress/prayer.htm.
5 Buttrick, Prayer, 79.
6 Artur Weiser, The Psalms (Westminster Press, 1962), 446-447.
7 Weiser, 450.
8 Weiser, 451.
9 Weiser, 452.
10 John Ruef, Paul's First Letter to Corinth, (Penguin Books, 1971), 64.
11 1 and 2 Corinthians (Oliphants, 1971), 75.
12 F.F. Bruce, 75.
13 Gerard Seenan, Manchester Guardian, January 7, 2003.
14 When You Pray: Thinking Your Way into God's World (Judson Press, 1987), 130.
15 Hall, 131.
Team Comments
George Murphy responds: Some distinctions are needed. Christians pray for Muslims to accept Christ, and Muslims pray for Christians to accept Islam. It seems to me that we can respect the sincerity of the latter prayer but that, if we believe that Christianity really is true, we ought to be praying the former one. Surely we shouldn't be dissuaded from praying for something simply because we know that someone else is praying for the opposite thing. But with a football game we can't say "with the certainty of faith" that Oakland should win.
Inclusion of "Thy will be done" - whether implicit or explicit - is crucial here. We can pray for what we think is best if we recognize that God really knows what is best.
I recall the scene in the film Patton in which, during the Battle of the Bulge, an army chaplain is taken aback (but finally accedes) to Patton's demand for a prayer for victory. Was that inappropriate? Knowing even then what was known about Nazism - and even more today - I would find it hard to say so.
Regarding the Weiser quote that "The thoughts of the worshiper have turned away from the contemplation of his human sorrows and afflictions and are wholly focused on God; he no longer sees anything but God who is his helper, his rock and his fortress," I would add that in some of the psalms of complaint the psalmist comes very close to arguing with God about what should happen.
Regarding your comment that "That relatedness is not based upon human competition and victory or anything as mundane as a petition to win a crucial football game or tennis match," we need to avoid the suggestion that God is just too busy to be bothered with things like football games.
You write, "After the victory is won and the game is over, how often do the participants ask, 'Is that all there is?'" One sports column that stuck in my mind when I was playing high school football posed this question: Often teams pray before a game, but how many of the players or coaches breathe a prayer of thanks after the game?
You also mentioned that the Scottish Parliament wants to banish the sign of the cross from football grounds across the country not because Scotland is a predominantly Protestant country. Maybe in Scotland the sign of the cross is seen as distinctively Roman but it isn't. Many Lutherans and Anglicans (as well as Orthodox, of course) do it. Luther's direction for morning prayer begins "When you arise, make the sign of the holy cross ..."
The real theological problem, however, is the superstitious use of such a practice which in itself is okay. The same could be said for prayer. I just finished reading a German novel set in the 18th century in which, during a severe thunderstorm, the family all kneels in the living room and begins to pray "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God..." I believe that was a common practice in some parts of Europe. And how many mechanical recitations of the Lord's Prayer are of the same type?
Larry Hard responds: Good sermon! There are abundant resources in this sermon, many links to sites, specific examples of prayers rather than just abstractions about prayer, and more than enough materials from which a preacher can select.
Since the Super Bowl is the event of the day, one could begin the sermon by asking the congregation three questions: How many of you will be watching the game today? How many of you care who wins today? How many of you believe the game is something fans or players should pray about? There are additional ways to involve congregational response, including some that would evoke laughter.
Jonathon Smith responds: Organized or programmed prayer at public/sporting events is an issue that will probably never be resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. The Christian in me says that prayer should always be a part of everything we do ("pray constantly"), and as a Christian of course my prayers would be directed to Jesus. But at the same time I am a firm believer in religious freedom and I always wonder how those of other faiths feel when they attend or are involved in public events where organized or programmed prayer is clearly Christian. Should the organized prayer include prayers from other faiths as well as the Christian faith? But as a Christian, I certainly would not want to take part in prayer to any other god.
I do wonder though if at least having a period of silent contemplation before such events might hopefully result in fewer mass riots at soccer games or fewer fans/parents running onto the field to attack the referees or coaches!!
Related Illustrations
Here's a story called "Golf Justice" that made the e-mail round a while back:
The Reverend Francis Norton woke up Sunday morning and, realizing it was an exceptionally beautiful and sunny early spring day, decided he just had to play golf. So... he told the associate pastor that he was feeling sick and convinced him to say Mass for him that day. As soon as the associate pastor left the room, Father Norton headed out of town to a golf course about 40 miles away. This way he knew he wouldn't accidentally meet anyone he knew from his parish.
Setting up on the first tee, he was alone. After all, it was Sunday morning and everyone else was in church!
At about this time, Saint Peter leaned over to the Lord while looking down from the heavens and exclaimed, "You're not going to let him get away with this, are you?"
The Lord sighed and said, "No, I guess not."
Just then Father Norton hit the ball and it shot straight toward the pin, dropping just short of it, rolled up and fell into the hole. IT WAS A 420-YARD HOLE-IN-ONE!
St. Peter was astonished. He looked at the Lord and asked, "Why did you let him do that?"
The Lord smiled and replied, "Who's he going to tell?"
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The 2002 Brown Center Report on American Education indicates that athletes tend to have higher earnings than nonathletes in the 10 to 15 years after high school graduation. Here's why, according to the report:
From the human capital perspective, high school sports enhance an individual's stock of productive resources. Athletes may learn self-discipline, how to follow directions, perseverance, and how to set goals, a valuable set of skills for success in college and the workplace.
Another explanation focuses on social capital. High school sports ... bring parents of athletes into close contact, and create dense social networks around youngsters ... If an athlete decides to do something stupid, it is likely that an adult will hear about it and have a chance to intervene. Non-athletes ... often pass through school anonymously ... Kids who go out for a team sport may be intrinsically different than others - more ambitious, harder working, more confident in themselves. Signaled of the likelihood that a person possesses these traits, educators and employers reward athletes with good grades, admission to college, good jobs, and high wages.
(The Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution, www.brookings.edu/dybdocroot/gs/brown/brown_hp.htm)
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Just as many parents expected, athletics prove to be valuable for children's development. Playing team sports is linked to improving grades through high school and a higher likelihood of finishing college, says Jacquelynne Eccles, a professor at the University of Michigan, based on a 14-year study of 1,800 young people. Far more U.S. teens play sports than in Europe or east Asia, and the number is growing all the time.
But in a new twist, Dr. Eccles has found a point of diminishing returns for young athletes. The benefits of sports don't increase with the number of sports played, she says. On top of that, she notes, other extracurricular activities - anything from drama to pep clubs to volunteer groups - offer kids many of the same benefits. She recommends a diversified portfolio of activities - under that scenario, there's no sign of diminishing returns. The studies control for standardized-test scores, gender and mothers' education.
(Sue Shellenbarger, "Making Time to Veg: Parents Find Their Kids Need Life Balance as Well," The Wall Street Journal, September 26, 2002, D1.)
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A Word From The Coach: I'm just a plowhand from Arkansas, but I have learned how to hold a team together. How to lift some men up, how to calm down others, until finally they've got one heartbeat together, a team. There's just three things I'd ever say:
If anything goes bad, I did it.
If anything goes semi-good, then we did it.
If anything goes real good, then you did it.
That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you.
- Bear Bryant
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In Joyce Carol Oates' review of The Picador Book of Sportswriting, she commented, "Decades ago, when the distinguished American philosopher George Santayana observed, 'Another world to live in is what we mean by religion,' he could not have anticipated how, for many millions of his countrymen, as for yet more millions throughout the world, what he meant by 'religion' would one day be displaced in the most immediate, existential, and emotional sense by spectator sports."
(Times Literary Supplement, July 12, 1996)
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New York City's Cathedral of St. John the Divine is the largest Gothic cathedral in North America.
From a distance every stained-glass window in the majestic building looks as traditional and reverent as any in the world. However, one window is quite different from the rest.
The inspiration for this unique window came when the daughter of a former bishop of New York attended the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924. She was so impressed with the sporting events that she convinced her father, William Manning, to devote one stained-glass window in the cathedral to sports. Viewed from a distance it looks like any of the other beautiful windows, but when seen up close one sees a window with scenes of baseball, tennis, auto racing, and other sports on it!
Like St. John's stained-glass windows, members of the Body of Christ may appear to be very much alike, but a closer look reveals how unique we are. Each one of us has special abilities that enable us to do the work for God that only we can do.
(The Upper Room, August 6, 1984)
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In researching a best-selling book on running, the late Jim Fixx was struck by the way devotees described their commitment to the sport as a "conversion experience." The wife of one pilgrim of plod told him: "Tom used to be a Methodist; now he's a runner."
(Christianity Today, April 4, 1986, 20.)
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Mark A. Noll, writing in the Reformed Journal, points out that historians of American higher education note that in the last third of the 19th century two things happened when colleges introduced intercollegiate sports. One was a marked decline in religious revivals on campuses; the other was a similar reduction in random student rioting. Enthusiasm for sports seems to have replaced both an enthusiasm for God and an enthusiasm for bashing other people around. Not an ideal trade-off, Noll observes, but it has its points.
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In the midst of a Nebraska drought, some thirsty soul sent the following prayer to the Lincoln Journal and Star:
O Lord, send us and our dusty neighbors around the world a good soaking rain of about one and a half inches over a 15-hour period, at the rate of no more than a tenth of an inch per hour, preferably at night; and repeat once a week through April 15, with the exception of three weeks appropriate for spring planting; and thereafter, once every two weeks until the soil-moisture deficit has been eliminated, or until the farmers wish it would stop, whichever comes first. Amen.
Worship Resources
By Chuck Cammarata
Call to Worship
(sung a cappella; the tune for this little chorus is in most contemporary hymnals)
I love you lord - and I lift my voice
To worship you - O my soul rejoice
Take joy my king - in what you hear
May it be a sweet - sweet sound in your ear.
An Alternative Call to Worship
Leader: Pray or don't pray,
People: YAHWEH IS GOD.
Leader: Obey or don't obey,
People: YAHWEH IS GOD.
Leader: Sing or don't sing,
People: YAHWEH IS GOD.
Leader: Give thanks or don't give thanks,
People: YAHWEH IS KING.
Leader: Yesterday, today, and tomorrow;
People: AT THE BEGINNING;
Leader: And at the end;
People: THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD;
Leader: Through victory and defeat;
People: IN LIFE,
Leader: And in death:
People: YAHWEH IS GOD!
Leader: Let us praise the God who is always God.
People: HALLELUJAH!
Leader: Amen!
Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Pardon
Leader: Gotta get to church!
People: GOTTA LOOK GOOD!
Leader: Gotta have a big smile.
People: GOTTA PLAY THE GAME.
Leader: The "Got it all together" game.
People: BECAUSE GOOD CHRISTIANS
Leader: Got it all together.
People: YES, WE DO. GOT IT ALL TOGETHER.
Leader: But you know what?
People: WHAT?
Leader: I don't have it all together.
People: REALLY!
Leader: Really. There's lots I struggle with. Thoughts I think - actions I take - things I should do but don't. Even after all these years in Christ, I'm sorry to say, I still don't have it all together.
People: GUESS WHAT?
Leader: What?
People: I DON'T HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER EITHER.
Leader: Really?
People: REALLY!
Leader: So, I guess we're just the church of those who don't got it all together.
People: I GUESS SO.
Leader: But that's okay; we don't have to have it all together.
People: WHY NOT?
Leader: Because Jesus got it together for us, and all those who are in Christ have his togetherness.
People: PRAISE GOD.
Leader: Yeah - Praise God!
Response
(The tune for "Sing Alleluia" is also in many contemporary hymnals. It can also be found in "The Tune Book," a collection of songs edited by Yo Anderson and used by many Cursillo communities, both Roman Catholic and Protestant.)
Sing alleluia to the Lord. Sing alleluia to the Lord.
Sing alleluia, sing alleluia, Sing alleluia to the Lord.
Jesus has taken all our sin. Jesus has taken all our sin.
Jesus has taken, Jesus has taken, Jesus has taken all our sin.
He's given us all his righteousness. He's given us all his righteousness
He's given us all, given us all, given us all his righteousness.
An Alternative Prayer of Confession
Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we are to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve. Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer*, 1979,. 234.)
Pastoral Prayer
Our pastoral prayers are sometimes seen as the most boring part of the service by the people in the pews. A chance to get a few winks before the sermon. Doing some simple things to help the body be more attentive and focused can really be a help during this time, so try this simple practice now and then. Have those who are able stand during the prayer, and ask the members in each pew to get close enough to hold hands as you lead them in prayer. It's a small thing, but different enough to get their attention.
Just remember - don't make it a 10-minute prayer or you'll have people toppling over in the pews.
Hymns
"What a Friend We Have in Jesus"
"Sweet Hour of Prayer"
"In the Garden"
"I Must Tell Jesus"
Choruses and Contemporary Songs
Where You Are - one of the most beautiful contemporary songs is by the group FFH. It is a cry to be where God is. Meditative and haunting, it can be sung as a solo or as a congregational song. It can be found on the CD "City on a Hill," and there is an accompanying songbook.
Surely the Presence of the Lord Is in This Place - can be found in the Kairos Songbook and in the Tune Book mentioned above;
As the Deer - in most contemporary hymnals
In the Secret - a song about going to that secret place to be with God. Written and sung by the contemporary group Third Day. Any good religious bookstore will be able to get the music for you.
Miniskit (Based on the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican)
On the stage area one man is seated near the rear of the area. He is dressed a bit shabbily. He is bent over, head in hands. An occasional sigh comes from him. He looks to heaven with sorrow on his face. Then his head goes back into his hands. Another man enters. This man is dressed to the hilt. Suit, tie, polished shoes, not a hair out of place. He looks at the seated man. His face registers contempt. He moves to the front of the area. Looking over his shoulder he says in a loud whisper, "Thank you, Lord, that I am not like this guy." He then faces forward, raises his hands to the heavens, and begins to pray loudly, "God of all creation. Maker of sun, moon, and stars. Maker of me. Thank you for making me as you have. A man of integrity. A tither. A righteous follower of all your ways."
The man in the seat is now watching this man pray. He looks even sadder. He watches as the well-dressed man turns and leaves the area with a certain confidence. After the well-dressed man is gone he looks to the heavens once more and cries out in despair, "O Lord, have mercy on me for I am a sinner." Then his head drops back into his hands and he sobs.
If the preacher wishes, he or she may ask the congregation at this point, "Which of these men offered a true prayer? Jesus said it was the poor sinner, for he knew his need for God, and he revealed his heart to God. The other man simply told God of his qualifications."
This is prayer, the sharing of the heart with the one who made us and loves us.
Children's Sermon
By Wesley Runk
Psalm 62:5-17
Text: "Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord." (vv. 11-12)
Object: A huddle like in a football game
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you know what important name is given to this Sunday? (let them answer) Is it All Saints' Sunday? (let them answer) Is it Easter Sunday? (let them answer) Is it Christian Unity Sunday? (let them answer) It's not any of these, is it? So why is this Sunday so important? (let them answer) No one here can guess, but I think a lot of your parents could tell me what important event is going to happen this Sunday!
Today is Super Bowl Sunday! Do you know what happens today? (let them answer) That's right; today is the big football game that we have been hearing all about for weeks, even months. Every year the two best football teams meet for a big showdown and the winner is declared the champion professional football team for the year 2003. These teams have played since last August and have practiced since last July, and now on the last Sunday in January they will play the final game for this season.
We will see a lot of things today, including the football game. But two things you will probably not see are the things that I would like to talk about today. How many of you know the word "huddle"? (let them answer) Very good, it is when the team on the field gets in a circle and the quarterback tells the team what the next play is going to be. Why don't we get in a huddle and see what it looks like when you are inside the huddle? (have the children huddle) It's kind of a neat way to talk to one another, isn't it?
The quarterback can tell the other players if it is a running play or a passing play and who he wants to carry the ball or receive the pass. Things don't always work out the way the quarterback wants them to because there is a defense on the other side of the line that is trying to spoil their plan. But it doesn't make any difference, because they are going to huddle for the next play, and the next play. When it works out the way the quarterback wants it to work, then lots of good things happen, including a touchdown. Touchdowns are great! Have you ever watched the player who scored the touchdown? (let them answer) Sometimes he does a special dance. Sometimes he jumps into the crowd of fans who are cheering for him. Sometimes he spikes the ball by throwing it very hard into the ground. Sometimes he runs around the end zone with his one finger pointing up to heaven. We don't know why he is pointing but he does it anyway. Once in a while the player who scored the touchdown just hands the ball to the referee and walks back to his bench. That doesn't happen very often, but it is the way I like the best.
Anyway, I want to tell you about two other huddles that take place at a game. One is before the game and one is after the game. The first huddle has only players from the same team. They get together and they bow their heads and they pray that God will be with them, that they play a good game and that no one is injured. It is a team prayer. The players like this huddle and they do it before every game. They know that the real power belongs to God, and they want to share that power and do their best.
The second huddle is after the game. This time some players from each team huddle on the field. They also pray to God and thank God for being with them and for sharing his love with both sides, the winners and the losers. They tell God what a hard-fought game it was but also how much they learned in playing the game. They pray that they will live safely to play another game. These are real things that happen before and after every game. No one will describe it on TV or tell you about it, but all of the coaches are with the team before the game and some of the players and coaches pray after the game.
The Bible teaches us that God speaks and God has all of the power but that he shares with people who love him, even football players playing in the biggest game of the year. The last huddle after every game is a prayer huddle to thank God for his presence. Amen.
The Immediate Word, January 26, 2003 issue.
Copyright 2002 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 permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., P.O. Box 4503, Lima, Ohio 45802-4503.
