The church had a chili cook-off today. The pastor said the members of the church like to eat and they regularly have meals together. (September was welcome back Indian cuisine, October was chili, November the deacons are cooking again, and December is a lasagna cok off) I really like this. The church I grew up in frequently had pot lucks. The Carbondale church almost never had meals and when they did they were catored. The people of that church were generally not your down-home, make-it-from-scratch kind of cooks. I enjoy cooking and baking and hosting and it is a nice way to talk to other church members. I made Mom's southwestern chili and took corn chips to go in it.REcipe: 2 pounds of chicken, 4 bell peppers, 2 onions, 3 tablespoons chili powder, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, 28 ounces diced canned tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 10 ounce can of corn, 12 ounce jar of salsa, and broth. Recipe calls for 28 ounces of broth but I usually just add until chili is of a good consistency. Serve with Frito corn chips or crumble tortilla chips. I put the raw meat in and cook it all together in a croc pot. Then cut up the meat and stir in during cooking.
Church Service: The music this week was wonderful. I e-mailed the secretary about getting a copy of the CD but haven't heard from her yet. Began with Down to the River to Pray. The choir was so loud and enthusiastic. (I also love that this choir is members of the church and sing to worship and not as paid performers hired by the session.) The number varies but is usually about 4 men and women. It was such a joy to experience their enthusiasm today. During the announcements the deacon of the week is always introduced and stands up and invites people to see them after church if they have concerns that they do not want to share publically during the service.
Song Joyful, joyful, we adore thee
Childrens Time: Asked what do the kids think the birds sing about? Specifically menionted that KAtie had been in Central PArk the day before for a bird watching activity and asked about the birds she saw and heard. Do the birds sing about thegrifts they receive? Said the Psalms are a book of songs that peopel sang, songs aof joy and thanks giving. For the prayer the children all joined on the floor like in a football huddle. I don't think that was the plan but it was neat how they all did that with their arms around each other and the intern with them. Her prayer was wonderful as well. Thank you God for the green hills where we can see your praise, for the scent of good food so we can smell your praise, for the songs of children so we can hear your praise, etc.
They do this cool song called Spirits Rising by Lisa Levine. I haven't been able to get the sords down but will try. They do most of their singing without any music, which I don't particularly care for, but am getting used to. The music leader is a nice young man who directs the congregation and the choir members sit amongst us and help lead the songs as well.
Scripture was Psalm 65 and Joel 2:21-32
Sermon Title: Listening to the Locusts
The sermon today was delivered by a woman who grew up in the church and is currently in seminary.
We live in an area where it is hard to imagine crops of abundance or the devatation of locusts. Our grocery shelves always overflow with abundance. Talked about how the Israelites experience God- through the written law, stories handed down, pastors interpretation, or a prophets defence. Also in the constancy of sunrise and sunset, the fire on the mountsin, the spring rain, and in the swarms of locusts. The condition of the land mirrored the peoples relationship with God. Lush garden or harsh desert. The language of the land: a spring rain was a symbol of God's love. To us weather is only an inconvenience, a conversation topic. It is not important to us, not a matter of life or death. To them the spirit and the weather were linked. We value one and abandon the other pray for the spirit and not the rain. We pray for the intangible becasue it is less risky. Not so clear whether the prayer was answered or not. We value our disconnection from the land. We irrigate and use chemicals and machinary. To us dirt is dirty. THere has been a mass exodus from farming. We can buy fresh strawberries 12 months a year and are so used to the artificial taste thatwe don't even realize they don't taste fresh. We have forgotten the taste of fresh produce. We approach our spitirual life the same way. We forget; our bodies shut down.
When we disconnect from the land we also disconnect from our fellow humans and from God. When we take care of the earth it takes care of us. Whether we nuture chickens or a squash plant, ther is more connection to God in nature than in church. We have turned away from the land and forgotten its language.
We need to look for joys. Lift our gaze from the sidewalk below us. Appreciate God's playfulness. Look at the chipmunks, wonder at the beauty of a single leaf, and listen for the locusts. Life can be painful and not fair. The mountains fall for coal, the birds are crying with oil in their feathers. (Are these sermons not written just for me?! The beauty in a single leaf?!)
We have come to believe that the earth is disposable. Let's trash it today. God will provide a new heaven and earth. Instead we are invited to turn back to the land. Listen to the locusts, listen to nature as friends. Be ready to be touched and moved to action.
Hymn God of the Sparrow, 272.
Doxology is God Whose Giving Knows No Ending (song often gets stuck in my head during the week!) by Beach Spring
Prayer: The minister did the prayer today. I love how the speaker stands among the congregation to pray. Another beautiful song. Iwill tell you the words but you can't apprecaite it without hearing the music. Heopfully I can get the CD and figure out a way to play it for you. I wonder if Grandma knows any of these songs?
Does anybody know somebody who could use my help?
Does anybody know somebody who could use my help?
Who can I give my help? For I have so much myself, oh
Does anybody know somebody?
Does anybosy know somebody,
Anybody know somebody who could use my help?
As we do unto the least of these
As we do unto the least of these
As we do unto the least of these, Jesus said that's who he'll be, oh,
Does anybody know somebody?
Anybody know somebody,
Anybody know somebody who could use my help?
We can't save the world but Jesus can
We can't save the world, but Jesus can
And Jesus is in our head, and we are his feet and hands, oh,
Does anybody know somebody?
Does anybody know somebody,
Anybody know somebody who could use my help?
If you aren't familiar with this it would be worth trying to find it, by John Tirro. In the prayer the minister mentioned those who don't know where their next meal comes from and the cholera epidemic in Haiti. Congregation always offers prayers as well and the speaker repeats them into the microphone. Lots of prayer requests today, joys and concerns, including an especially heart wrenching story. Ended prayer with the chorus above.
Next Sunday is All Saints Day and everyone is invited to order flowers in memory of loved ones. Also, Halloween Concert for kids by the Broadway Bach Ensemble next Sunday afternoon.
No comments:
Post a Comment