Wade in the Water

Yesterday was a fun day for me at Bethlehem.  I put a kiddie pool in front of the altar.

See:

Why did I do such a thing?  Well beside it keeping me cool as I was able to walk through the water during my sermon, I had it as a prop for my sermon.  The gospel text was Matthew 14:22-33 when Jesus and Peter walk on water.  Therefore I was going to try and walk on water.  I didn't spend the entire sermon in the kiddie pool, just part of it.  

Now I have a date with a bucket to try and get the pool emptied.  Meanwhile you enjoy the sermon:

As many of you have figured out by now about me, I often have questions about what was going on through people’s minds during these bible stories.  So therefore I have two big questions about this text.  The first is: Why did Peter think he could walk on water?  Have any of you ever seen someone walk on water?  Have any of you ever walked on water yourself?  People have tried many times, with different methods like special shoes or running in an arch.  There is even a video out there that shows some guys getting about 7 steps in before they sink, but that video is a hoax. But let's try it now.  I'm going to try and walk on water.

Was Peter just caught up in the moment?  Was he challenging this being that he thought was a ghost?  Or did he want to be like Jesus.  He had been a good follower of Jesus, obeying his commandments, well at least most of the time, so couldn’t he do the amazing things that Jesus has done?  Couldn’t then Peter be like Jesus and cure the sick, multiply food and probably the most impressive of all, walk on water? 

I think Peter did want to be like Jesus.  Don’t we all want to be like Jesus?  Don’t we all wish that we could perform the miracles that Jesus performed?  Don’t we all wish that we could be like Jesus?  Always doing what is right.  Never causing sin, hurt and pain in the people that we love.  Never having to worry about things like money, food, housing issues or gas for the car because we know God’s plan for our lives and can put such trivial matters aside.  Don’t we all want to be like Jesus so that we too can be put to death on a cross and battle the devil so that other people’s sins can be forgiven? 

Then let’s admit it.  We really don’t want to be like Jesus, at least not truly.  We just want the cool parts, the miracles, turning water into wine, making the blind see and walking on water.  We don’t want to be like Jesus when it comes to challenging ourselves, when it comes to giving up of ourselves in order to first care for others.  We don’t want to be exiled from our hometowns or thrown out of the temple when people don’t understand what we are talking about.  We don’t want to be like Jesus when it comes to giving up of our lives.  Let’s face it, we have a hard enough times just keeping our eyes on Jesus.  Peter took his eyes off Jesus and started to drown.  We take our eyes off Jesus, turning from our faith, and start to drown emotionally and spiritually as the cares of this world get in our way.  We want to be like Jesus in many ways but as soon as we are challenged, we start to take our eyes off of him and it is then that we start to drown. 

Which brings me to my second question about Peter in this story: Why did Peter think he was going to drown and needed Jesus to save him?  Peter is a fisherman, he grew up on the Sea of Galilee, we hear of him swimming to shore after Jesus rose from the dead.  Peter was not afraid of the water.  Peter knew how to swim.  He wasn’t going to drown.  He could have easily swam back to the boat, even with all the waves and wind tossing him about. Peter had as much of a chance of drowning in that water as I have of drowning in these 2 inches of water in this pool. 

And yet he relied on Jesus to save him. 

And Jesus was there, he immediately reaches out his hand and catches Peter and brings him into the boat. 

Peter did not need Jesus to save him physically and yet relied on Jesus to save him.  And in doing so, it was then that Peter realized that Jesus is God and he is not and Peter truly demonstrated his faith. 

Peter realized that he cannot be Jesus.  Most of us realize that we cannot be Jesus.  That we are not capable of completely giving up of ourselves for other people.  That we are not willing to die a gruesome death in order to save others from sin and death.

And that is okay.  It is okay that we are not Jesus.  It is even okay that we often take our eyes off of him.  Because we don’t need to be Jesus.  We don’t need to be God.  In fact, it is impossible for us to be Jesus because we are not like Jesus.  Jesus was fully God and fully human and we are not gods, we are not even partially God, we are just fully human.  Imperfections and all. And therefore we cannot save ourselves.

When we realize that we cannot save ourselves, we show great faith.  It is then, when we are sinking, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, that we call out to God to save us.  And it is when we call out to God to save us that we are most humble and are best able to see that we are not gods.  

And even though we are not gods, Jesus still saves us!  Jesus still reaches out his hand and catches us when we are not able to walk on water.  Jesus still heals us with his touch when we cannot heal ourselves.  Jesus still feds us with the food he as multiplied when we are not able to multiply food on our own.  We are fed and forgiven through Jesus.  We are fed and forgiven because we cannot be Jesus and because Jesus was sent by God to save us, even when we take our eyes off of him.  

MMC: August Already

Good Morning Bethlehem  

Is it really August already?!  I hope you all are enjoying the summer and not yet thinking too hard about the fall.

A Few Announcements

• The giving basket is collecting toiletries of all type and size.  Travel size shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, and body wash are especially appreciated.  All items will be donated to Americares clinic in Danbury.
• Senior lunch is at noon on Wednesday August 10.  We will be meeting at Heibecks/Blondies on route 7.  Just an FYI that it is a cash only establishment.
• The outdoor worship & picnic will be Sunday August 14!  Bring your lawn chairs and a side or dessert to share.  Hamburgers, hot dogs & veggie burgers will be provided.
• Mark your calendar - Rally Day is September 18th!  Christian Education & Sunday School is going to take on a whole new look this year.  Watch for more information.  

Book of Faith Puzzler

Last week’s  question was: Sunday’s gospel consisted of 5 parables, which of the following is not another parable that Jesus told?  A) The houses on rock and sand, B) the lost coin C) the wise baker D) the ten talents.  There is not a parable about a wise baker, though Pastor Becca thinks that there should be.  Congratulations to Mark H for winning this week's puzzler. 


This week’s question: Today’s gospel is Jesus feeding a large crowd of 5000 plus people.  This story is heard in multiple gospels, which is it NOT hear in? A) Matthew B) Mark, C) Luke, D) John E) it is in all 4 gospels  If you know the answer or are willing to google it, submit your answer by noon on Wednesday to be entered into this week's drawing.  As of Monday morning no correct answers have been submitted. 

Yesterday's Sermon 

If you missed it you can read it here.  So do you think the loaves and fishes were multiplied or that the crowd shared food that they had?  Does it really matter which?  When is it hard for you to share?  What are ways that we don't share that might not seem too obvious?  How can we learn to share and compromise more?

Wednesday's Worship

This Wednesday at 7pm we will be hearing about Jesus walking on water and Peter trying to.  Bring your lawn chairs for an informal worship experience. 

Sunday's Worship

The following people have signed up to serve this coming Sunday.  

Worship Assistant: Mark H

Reader:____________

Communion Assistant: ______________

Usher: _____________ & ____________

Counter: _________________

Bread baker/bringer: __________________

Communion set up & clean up: ________________

Coffee hour host: Ellen G

If you would like to sign up to serve in any of the ways that are currently blank, please let me know. 

Sunday's Gospel

We continue through Matthew's gospel, this time with Matthew 14:22-33, Jesus walking on water.  When have you tried to do the impossible?  When has God done the impossible in your life?  Peter started to sink after becoming afraid.  When have you started to fail at something after you have become afraid to continue or to succeed?

Hope you all have a great week and I'll see you Wednesday or Sunday

Pastor Becca

Multiplied or Shared?

Yesterday's sermon was based on the gospel for the day, Matthew 14:13-21, Jesus feeding 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish.  This story comes around often as it is in all four of our gospels and therefore is loved by many people.  However I have often heard people diminish the miracle saying that Jesus didn't actually multiple the loaves and fishes and instead the crowd had food on them and they shared what they had.  Well in the midst of debt ceiling crisis, NFL player & owner talks and drought in Africa, maybe we need to hear a little more about being encouraged to share.  

This is probably one of my most political sermons, while far from political propaganda.

Enjoy!
It was dinner time and yet the crowds remain.

Here is a large crowd that unexpected followed Jesus after he heard about the death of his cousin, friend, and colleague in ministry: John the Baptist. The crowds had come out to see Jesus on the beach of the town earlier in the day and they were so moved by that experience, so drawn to the word of God, that they followed him, even when he wanted to be alone.

As they watched the boat sail over the sea, they walked on the shore, keeping sight of his boat so that they may catch up to him and continue to hear what Jesus had to say.

And now it was dinner time and the crowds remain.

And so the disciples come to Jesus and politely tell him, these people are probably hungry, let them go back to their homes or at least into the surrounding villages so that they can eat.

We do not know if the disciples said this because it had been a long day for them and they just wanted some peace as well. We don’t know if they said this because they themselves were hungry and only had a few loaves of bread and fish to eat among themselves that even divided 13 ways would have been but a small meal. We don’t know if the disciples told Jesus to send them away because they had compassion for the crowd or because they just wanted to be alone. We don’t know if some in the crowd came prepared with food tucked away in pockets and bags. We don’t know if some of the kids were crying out with hunger and getting crabby from walking so far and then standing in the hot sun all day without food. We don’t know if people were still listening intently to Jesus or if hunger pains were starting to distract them as their stomachs grumbled. We don’t know if moms were hading out small bags of fruit and bread to their families and they nibbled as they listened. We don’t know a lot about what really happened here.

But we do know that the disciples did have 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish which they gave to Jesus. And Jesus blessed them and broke the loaves and handed the food to the disciples who passed out the food to some in the crowds, who passed on the food to more people in the crowd and more and more, until not only all the people had a little something to eat, but they had a lot to eat. And then they filled baskets with leftovers, 12 baskets in fact.

Isn’t that wonderful that all were fed? Isn’t it wonderful that food was provided in such an abundance that there was plenty left over?

And yet when many of us hear this story, we cynically try to pick apart the gospel. Oh well it wasn’t the same 5 loaves and 2 fish that everyone ate from but many people had food with them and they were moved by Jesus’ sharing what he had that they too shared what they had.

Well isn’t that still a miracle? Isn’t the ability to share a miracle?

If you have been paying any attention to the news over the pass two weeks you would think that if one person shares or compromises that there entire moral compass is corrupt and they will be thrown into some fiery furnace were there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

We hear about the debt ceiling debate in the United States and the debt crisis in the Euro Zone and politicians bickering and arguing and walking out on agreement talks because they feel like they might not get their way and we all just wonder if these politicians ever went to kindergarten. Did we really vote into office the only people in the world who have never learned to share and compromise? Are they all only children and therefore never had to share the one package M&M’s that their mom bought for the 3 kids? Or did they never had the agreement that Billy gets to chose what show you watch first and after that is over it is Missy turn and then it is your turn to pick the tv show of choice.

And it is not just our political leaders that have a problem with sharing and compromising. Corporations and banks and even individual people hoard their money in order to get the biggest investment on their return and yet some of their employees struggle to feed their families, live in pest infested slums, or are not able to afford basic health coverage.

And it is not just others that have a problem with sharing and compromising, each of us are part of an entire system that is set up to give more to some than to others. There is enough food in this world to feed every person. And while America is facing an obesity epidemic as food is imported in from all over the world and food is thrown out in abundance every day in our homes, restaurants and grocery stores, there are people literally starving to death in the Horn of Africa as drought and war has plagued the people. We as humans have a problem with sharing and compromising.

We don’t want to give up anything that we see as rightfully ours in order to care for others. We don’t want to pay more than our share of taxes even if that means helping people who we take advantage of either knowingly or unknowingly in other situations. We don’t want to have to cut back on our consumption even if it means that as a result other people have to do without and possibly even starve.

No one would argue that if Jesus physically multiplied the same loaves and fishes enough so that everyone was fed that it was a miracle. So why when we as humans have such a problem with sharing do we think that if we explain this story away as the crowds just shared among themselves what food they have, that it is any less of a miracle?

Through God, through listening to Jesus and following his example of sharing with others, with strangers, with people who we know and with people we don’t know, with those who we deem respectful and those who we deem as undeserving of our respect, through following Jesus’ example, all the people were fed. What if after handing the bread and fish to the disciples, they just ate what was given to them before they handed some on to the people in the crowd? Would all still have been fed?

When we trust that Jesus will provide for us and when we follow his example of sharing with everyone, Jesus not only provides, but provides in abundance. And we are not just provided for physically but also spiritually as in sharing, we feel the Spirit working through us.

When we realize that when we hoard onto what we have, collecting as much as possible, even if it means treating others with disrespect to get it, we will only at the end have a finite amount. But when we share with others, when we give what we have generously to our neighbors, our friends, our family, our community, with strangers both near by and across the world, we are given so much more, and we are given in abundance. For there will even be baskets of leftovers.