Today was a different Sunday than most. The girls each invited a friend so I walked to church with 5 beautiful little girls. Abby has been staying in the nursery with Lilly but is supposed to be in Sunday School. Since she had a friend with her it seemed a good Sunday to enforce the Sunday School rule. Problem arose that itstead of fighting with Abby I ended up fighting with both girls to get them out of the nursery and by that time Lilyl was crying hard. I finally herded then out and back to church. We could hear Lilly crying during the first parts of the service. Katie and I both looked at each other and said, "That is Lilly, isn't it?" She woukld get quiet for a moment and then we could hear her again. I thought she was calmed down but Katie reminded me that Lilly holds her breath when she is mad and the quiet moments could have been when she was not breathing. (She has done this to the point of passing out at home.)
Well I left the four girls in the pew and ran upstairs and got Lilly. She was so relieved that she hugged me for dear life and was quiet as a mouse going into church, except for the rythmic hick-ups as she caught her breath and calmed down from heavy crying. She fell aleep in my lap and slept until the last hymn.
I missed the children's message while getting Lilly. The four older girls went up to Sunday School.
The sermon this week was given by Takako. She is one of the interns. I believe that means she has finished seminary and is waiting for a church to call. She did a good job, but you could tell she was nervous. Krysten has a lot of experience or is just an exceptional minister. I always enjoy her sermons, both the message and the delivery.
Scripture: Haggai 1:15b-2:9 and Luke 20:27-38
Sermon: "It's Complicated"
I had Lilly asleep in my lap and it was a little difficult to follow at first so my notes may be sketchy. Some men were asking Jesus questions. These men only believed in the law of Moses, which does not include resurrection. They wanted to come up with ridiclous questions in order to humiliate Jesus, so they asked if a woman's husband died before they had children and she married his brother and he died before they had children and she married the next brother... all the way through 7 brothers and all died without having any children. Who would the woman be married to in heaven?
She gave some background information and explained the law. The reason for this law si that property would stay in the family after the husband died and it would ensure the care and well-being of the widow.
She then retold the story by from the woman's view. When she got to the thrid brother she said, "When you look at her Facebook page, under Relationship Status?, it says, "It's complicated!"
Jesus' answer to the men' question has two parts. First marriage is not relevant in heaven. Not our idea of marriage. Our idea of marriage is cultural, an arrangement of rights between in-laws. Yet the scriptures pertaining to marriage are used today to justify political views. Second, our God is the God of the living, not the dead. The old patriarchs, Abraham and Moses, are alive to God. He is still their God.
So what does this mean for us today? We belong. The people now and the peoplpe then experience life with all its complications. Others only live life in the present. They don't believe in an afterlife. our beliefs ground us in hope and trust. Or God rules now and in heaven. When we feel like that woman, given 7 times for the convenience for others. God's hope enables us to keep working and keep living against the brokeness and imperfections of this age.
We know because God has told us so. Even when we forget, God's promise stands through stories, Jesus' life, and the presence of the Holy Spirit among us.
The music during offering and the last hymn were especially good and right after church Abby said, "I have to bring this song home so we can show it to Nana". I spoke to the usher about getting a CD of the service and will try to add the actual music. Not sure if I will be able to do that or not.
Walking home we past a man asking for money. I had $2 in my pocket left from buying a posterboard for Abby before church. I went back and gave the money to him apologizing because I knew it wasn't much. As he took the money he held onto my fingers and I knew in that minute I was touching the hand of God. This was one of those moments in life so powerful they take your breath away. Later Kevin, Katie and I talked about other ways to help. We are in nyc surrounded by need and I have felt so unable to help. There are volunteer opportunities and social work positions all around us and I sit (stuck) at home with 3 kids. Being a Mom is my calling right now, I suppose, but hopefully I can work with the kids and model some ways to help others.
I read this amazing book a while back about a woman who bought doughnuts and coffee and walked through Central Park handing them out to the homeless sleeping there. I believe the book was A Begonia for Miss Applebaum.
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