First United Methodist Church - Fort Collins, CO

“We have a Decision to Make”

There comes a time in our lives when we have to determine what we are going to do about the way the world is. We have the option of just letting things go on their way and assuming that what is is what will be. We can opt of indifference to things assuming that there is nothing we can do so why should we try. Everything that came before us will continue on its way and there is little we can change.

It seems to me this is a defeatist attitude and we would want to confront this with an approach that looks at two things:

1. The creativity of the individual: We should never underestimate what power one person has to make a difference in the world. As Maya Angelou once said, “God with me is always a majority”. The creative potential in each of us can move things to a place they have never been and can create a world that has yet to become. God is the creative process that allows us to think new thought and do a new thing.

2. The transformative power of our interactions: It doesn’t take many people working together to transform a situation. Jesus had just a few disciples. The result of their work transformed Judaism, and brought about a “new Covenant” with God. God is in the transforming power of people joined together to build on the common good that lives in the human heart.

I am tired of listening to the prevailing discouragement I hear. Certainly, there are events that disappoint us. Clearly, life isn’t what it should be. Obviously, there is danger in the world as we have seen recently in Virginia. But it doesn’t need to be that way. We can change it as long as we make a decision to tap into the creative process and work toward transformation as we join together.

Henry Nelson Wieman believes God is revealed in Christ and that is not determined by intellectual assent to propositions. It is determined by the impact of a society and a history, a tradition, and a fellowship. It is driven by what we hold to be the source of all human good.

We have a decision to make. Will we accept what is or will we allow God to work through us to bring forward what ought to be?

How does that speak to your life?

If you have thoughts write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the “comments” box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Charles

 

Several things were interesting to me as I have done research on the life and thinking of the Process Theologian Henry Nelson Wieman. One of the problems he faced as a young man was the issues that come with being a preacher’s child. The fact that his father was a Presbyterian preacher meant that he had to move from one location to another at a particularly difficult time in his life and there were five boys who picked on him. I’m guessing he was Junior High age when this happened. He received no support from the other kids and his teacher was the sister of one of the bullies who beat him up regularly.

It has a very negative effect on his life. In fact Wieman said, “For years a nameless, unreasoning fear would at times come over me in small groups where everyone else was happy and convivial if the group was small enough to be at all comparable to the group of boys in that desert town. I think it always hindered the freedom and spontaneity of my association with groups.”

In Virginia a college student who was mentally ill and who had experienced rejection and bullying picked up a gun and killed 32 people. Henry Nelson Wieman, who experienced some of the same kind of abuse, picked up his life and developed an idea that any person can make a difference and that all people are supported by the creative and transforming process that is alive in the world.

It kind of comes down to the fact that we each have a decision to make. Will we bent to the forces of destruction or will we lift ourselves beyond the world as it is to work to make the world a better place?

Wieman is convinced we do no work alone. He believes there is God in our world asking us to become co-creators.

Have you ever felt rejection?

Have you ever experienced the pull of something beyond yourself that seemed to be inviting you to work toward the transformation of your world?

If you relate to any of this would you write me about it? My email address is charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to let others see your response click the “comments” box.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Charles

I have wanted to do a series of sermons on some of the theologies that have been important to me over the years. One of the most important perspectives I have read involves something called “Process Theology” and the theologian I am looking at this week is Henry Nelson Wieman.

Wieman believes that there is a creative and transforming presence in the world. He is convinced that a primary part of the Christian faith is the idea that God is at work within the matrix of each of our lives, and that we each have a major responsibility to respond to that creative and transformative force.

One of the most interesting observations Wieman makes is the suggestion that every person is important. He understands that history seems to be changed by the select and gifted few. Those of us who are not the movers and shakers of history may come to feel that we are not important in the scheme of things. Wieman disagrees. He puts forth the idea that, while change happens because of the actions and interactions of a few who are at the right place at the right time and who have gifts and graces to make the changes, he also points out that the pivitol people in history are often those who feed off the intuitions of the masses. There may be a few who move history forward or backward, but every person is a part of the process of that movement. 

 There is a creative and transformative power alive in the world. It is acting on each of us and it is inviting us to take our place and participate in making the world the kind of world God needs and wants it to be.

The Biblical texts come from Acts of the Apostles where Peter ministers to a woman whose name is Tabitha. She is ill and Peter pays her a visit. He simply says to her, “Tabitha arise”. The creative and transformative power is with him and with her.

Revelation speaks of the time when there will be no weeping and when God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Revelation, the last book in the Bible, reminds us that there is a creative and transformative power in life. 

Process Theologians understand God in the midst of life giving us hope and encouragement to move forward and to become co-creators with God.

 Have you experienced this in your life? Has there ever been a time when you felt there was something pulling you toward a greater sense of goodness and mercy? What are your experiences of this? Has there ever been a time when we have needed to be put in touch with this than a time like this when things seem so strange and tragic? What does the creative and transformative presence have to do with such things as the shooting at Virginia Tech?

I’d like to hear from you. Write me at Charlesschuster@fcfumc.net and if you are willing to allow others from the congregation to view your response click below the “comments” box. I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Charles 

 

Easter has happened, we have heard the story again, and sung the songs. But has the joy of the resurrection penetrated our very beings? Do we look at life any differently? Looking at the various areas of our lives, do we find joy overflowing?

 

• Our church: Are we thankful for the leadership and the people, and all that we do? Do we offer our part, and if we do, do we do it out of joy or resentful obligation?

• The people in our lives:

• Our parents: Do we love, honor and obey them? If they need care, do we do it out of love and joy and gratitude, or out of obligation?

• Our spouses: Do we truly cherish the one whom we have chosen to walk this life journey beside? Or has life caused us to see them as another obligation, or even a burden? Has the joy gone out of the relationship?

• Our children: Parenting can be overwhelming at times, keeping us from appreciating the beauty of the child before us. When our children are grown, sometimes we are more critical of them than appreciative of who they are. Do we see our children as gifts from God?

• Others: Do we see the people in our lives as gifts, given by God, or are we judgmental and unforgiving of the people that they are?

• Our self: Do we truly see our self as a child of God, fully human and fully alive?

• Life itself: How do we look at life in general, with its ups and downs? Are we joyous with each new day, or do we drag ourselves through the days and months?

 

Once again, I would appreciate your thoughts. Carolquinn@fcfumc.net

 

 

A time long ago, when the world was filled with small villages, each village had one or two or maybe three singers and storytellers. These people would tell stories and sing songs to help people celebrate joyous events. When tragedy struck someone’s life, their song and stories would bring comfort and hope. Sometimes they would sing and tell stories just to pass the time. They were important to the life of the village because they knew how to put the deep feelings of people into the words they would have wanted to say. The singer’s greatest skill though was not in singing, or storytelling, but in listening. If a singer did not listen to the hopes and dreams of the people they would not know what song to sing, or story to tell.

Easter is the Christian song and story that is the source of our Hope and Joy. God listened to the hearts of the people and understood their need, and God came into the world to change everything. The celebration of Easter began yesterday with the songs of joy that were so uplifting, and with hearing the story read from the Bible once again. But were we truly listening? Or will it just be another day in the year, as we go on with our lives as before. Will the resurrection make a difference in your life.? God has shared the story of life in the Easter miracle, a song of Hope and Joy. What will we do with that story?

Carol Quinn will be preaching this Sunday, the 15th, and I would appreciate your thoughts and comments. You can post a comment here, or email me at carolquinn@fcfumc.net.

The sermons are now in a rough draft state. On the Wednesday post I put the entire text of the 6am Sunrise sermon as it was then. It has changed some since it was posted.

The 8, 9:30, and 11 Easter sermon is coming together. I think it needs help but there is time, and if you have thoughts I’d appreciate hearing from you.

Title “For Crying Out Loud

Three issues seem to emerge from the 20th Chapter of the Gospel of John and that interpretation of the Easter story:

1. There were and are disciples who came looking for the corpse. They needed to see the body of Jesus. There are always people who need verification and who are consumed with doubt and dispair. The cynics and doubters will be at Church on Easter. They don’t believe much about the resurrection. They are suspicious about the story and how it applies to their lives. Their approach is basically, “Oh no!” They are at church basically because someone or something made them come, but they doubt that anything said or sung or read will effect their lives much. They might as well have stayed home.

2. There will be disciples who come to Easter with tears in their eyes. They are fanatical believers who are so taken by the fact that Jesus is alive that they cannot see beyond their tears to the deeper meaning of Easter; which is its implications for their lives. They already have Easter figured out. They know what it is saying to them. The problem is they know only what they think and believe. They are closed to meanings beyond their knowing. They already understand Easter and they might as well have stayed home.

3. When Jesus said, “Don’t hold onto me!” I think that is an important warning. He is telling the skeptical doubters to let go of some of their doubt and be open to seeing what is unseen. He is telling the faithful fanatics to let go of some of their faith certainty. He is telling us there is more to this story than we can grasp in one lifetime, but we have to be willing to look beyond what we have seen.

The hardest part of preaching on Easter Sunday is facing people who doubt all of the message of resurrection, and facing people who think they understand all about the message of resurrection.

The most important imperative is the proclaimation from Jesus who said, “Don’t hold on to me”.

There is a bit of the doubter and the fanatic in all of us. My job Sunday will be to remind us to let go of some of our doubt and some of our faithful certitude.

Do you have suggestions concerning how I get that said? If so write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your response click on the ‘comments’ box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Charles

The following is a very rough draft of the sermon for the Easter Sunrise service at 6am.

“IT WAS VERY EARLY ON SUNDAY MORNING AND THE WOMEN WENT TO THE TOMB WITH SPICES”. THEY HAD COME TO THE TOMB TO GET READY FOR A FUNERAL. THEY CAME EARLY IN THE MORNING FOR ONE PURPOSE. THEY FOUND WHEN THEY ARRIVED IT WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING. THEY WERE SURPRISED.

THE LAST TIME I DREW THE ASSIGNMENT OF PREACHING A SERMON AT AN ODD HOUR IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE AT 11 PM. I REMEMBER THAT NIGHT. YOU MAY REMEMBER IT TOO. SOME OF YOU WERE THERE THEN.

I MADE SOME COMMENT ABOUT HOW I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO PREACHING A SERMON TO THE CROWD THAT CAME TO THE MIDNIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE BECAUSE I SUSPECTED THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THAT SERVICE ARE THE MOST RIGHTEOUS; THE MOST DEDICATED; THEY ARE THE TRUE BELIEVERS.

FOR THE OTHERS, ON CHRISTMAS EVE IT’S A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE; THE SERVICE IS BUILT AROUND SUCH THINGS AS FAMILY DINNERS AND GIFT EXCHANGING AND PACKAGE OPENING AND SANTA CLAUS ARRIVING. THERE’S A TURKEY TO CARVE AND SINCE WE HAD WORSHIP AT 8 AND 9 AND 3 AND 5 AND 7 YOU COULD KIND OF FIT IT IN.

BUT THE MIDNIGHT PEOPLE WERE THE OBDURATE BELIEVERS WHO HAD COME TO THE SERVICE TO WORSHIP GOD IN THE QUIET OF THE FINAL HOUR OF THE EVE.

 

WE HAD BEEN BURRIED IN SNOW. IT STARTED TO SNOW ON THE 20^TH OF DECEMBER AND IT SNOWED ON THE 24^TH, AND THERE WAS ALMOST A YARD OF SNOW ON THE GROUND; 30 SOME INCHES OF SNOW. MORE SNOW THAN WE HAD EVER SEEN ON THE GROUND AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO PREACH A SERMON AT 5 O’CLOCK AND 7 O’CLOCK AND 11 O’CLOCK ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

I REMEMBER BEING AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR. WHEN I WAS AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR I GOT THE SERVICES THAT WERE HELD AT ODD TIMES LIKE THAT. I DID THE FUNERALS IN THE RAIN. I DID THE WEDDINGS IN THE MOUNTAINS WHEN THE MOSQUITOES WERE ACTIVE. I DID THE BAPTISMS IN THE BACKYARD OF THE FAMILY HOME FROM THE BIRD BATH THAT HAD COME OVER ON THE MAYFLOWER. I BLESSED THE HOME WHEN A COUPLE NEEDED TO HAVE A HOUSE BLESSING, AND I WAS THE ONE BLESSING THE HOME WHEN THE PET BOA GOT INTO A BATTLE TO THE DEATH WITH THE PET PYTHON. THE CEREMONEY WAS HELD UP WHILE WE SEPARATED THE TWO CONTRICTERS. I WAS THE ONE THAT GOT BITTEN. WHEN I WAS AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR I GOT ASSIGNED TO DO THE SERVICES AT ODD TIMES LIKE MID-NIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE.

ACTUALLY, I COULD HAVE ASSIGNED THIS TASK TO AN ASSOCIATE; THEY WERE PREPARED TO TAKE IT ON. SOME OF THEM SAID THEY WOULD DO IT. SOME OF THEM SAID THEY WANTED TO DO SUNRISE ON EASTER. BUT I PUSHED THEM OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE I WANTED THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING HERE WITH YOU ON EASTER SUNDAY.

 

 

I THINK WE ARE THE FIRST ONES TO CELEBRATE EASTER AND WE ARE CELEBRATING IT WHEN IT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED.

 

 

WE ARE HERE VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING AND WE HAVE COME HERE FOR A SPECIFIC REASON.

 

 

THERE IS A PROBLEM, HOWEVER. THE PROBLEM IS WE KNOW THE OUTCOME, AND IF WE FORGET THE LINK BETWEEN GOOD FRIDAY, AND EASTER WE WILL MISS THE CELEBRATION.

 

 

SO THIS MORNING IN THE DARK, I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT THOSE WOMEN WHO CAME TO THE TOMB AND WHY THEY CAME.

 

 

I WANT US TO THINK OF THE DARK DAYS OF OUR LIVES AND WHAT WE THOUGHT AS WE LIVED THEM.

 

 

IF WE CAME HERE IN THE DARK, AND IF WE ARRIVED AS THE WOMEN ARRIVED WITH SPICES AND WITH A PURPOSE, WE CAME THINKING IT WAS ALL OVER.

 

 

THE DREAM WAS DEAD; AS DEAD AS JESUS WAS DEAD UPON THE CROSS. THE DREAM WAS DEAD AND IT WAS ALL OVER.

 

 

EVER FEEL THIS WAY?

 

 

I REMEMBER A CALL I GOT ONE NIGHT. IT WAS FROM A YOUNG MAN; A YOUNG MAN IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THE WORDS HE SPOKE HAUNT ME STILL. HE SAID, “REVEREND SCHUSTER”—ACTUALLY HE SAID—“CHUCK, MY FATHER IS DEAD.”

 

 

I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, “WAIT A MINUTE. DICK HOUSAM IS NOT DEAD. HE WAS NOT ILL. HE COULD NOT BE DEAD.”

 

 

“RYAN, WHAT HAPPENED?”

 

“IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.”

 

 

DICK HOWSAM WAS THE SON OF ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE BRONCOS BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN THEY WORE THE VERTICAL STRIPED SOCKS. DICK WAS A BANKER AND HE CARRIED LARGE SUMS OF MONEY AND BECAUSE OF THAT, HE CARRIED A GUN. HE CARRIED HIS GUN IN A GYM BAG. HE HAD BEEN AT THE GYM WORKING OUT. HE FINISHED UP AND HE GOT INTO HIS CAR AND HE THREW HIS GYM BAG INTO THE BACK SEAT OF HIS CAR, AND SOMEHOW THE GUN DISCHARGED AND A BULLET CAME OUT OF HIS GYM BAG AND IT WENT THROUGH HIS HEART AND HE DIED INSTANTLY.

 

 

I REMEMBER MEETING WITH THE FAMILY AND PLANNING THE FUNERAL. I RECALL ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CAME. PEOPLE DICK’S AGE; YOU KNOW 40 YEARS OLD AND AT THE PEAK OF THEIR LIVES.

 

 

I REMEMBER TALKING WITH KAREN, DICK’S WIFE, AND HOW SHE SAID, “THIS IS THE END FOR ME. IT’S OVER; IT’S ALL OVER.”

 

 

THAT’S WHAT EASTER BRINGS TO US TODAY. THE IDEA THAT IT’S ALL OVER.

 

 

RICHARD LISCHER WROTE A BOOK ENTITLED THE END OF WORDS. RICHARD LISCHER TEACHES PREACHING AT THE DIVINITY SCHOOL AT DUKE. HE WRITES, “IN CONVERSATIONS WITH A TERMINALLY ILL FRIEND. I NOTICE THAT SHE READ THE BIBLE DIFFERENTLY THAN I AND RADICALLY SO. AS A MATTER OF THEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLE WE BOTH ACKNOWLEDGED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GOSPEL IN THE BIBLE, BUT SHE CLUNG TO IT AND CLAIMED IT AS HER PERSONAL PRIZE. MY FRIEND READ THE BIBLE WITH AN EVANGELICAL TENACITY THAT ALLOWED HER TO DISCOVER THE PROMISE OF GOD IN ANY PASSAGE, EVEN THOSE WHOSE SURFACE DETAILS SEEMED FAR REMOVED FROM THE GOSPEL. HER THEOLOGICAL INSTINCTS TOLD HER THAT THE BIBLE WAS PRESERVED AS A TESTIMONY TO GOD’S FAITHFULNESS. READING IT WAS AN EVERYDAY EXERCISE IN PRAYING AND CLAIMING AND BEING CLAIMED, WHICH IS WHAT IT SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONE WHO OPENS THE BOOK, EVEN BUSY PREACHERS. MY FRIEND WOULD HAVE SECONDED THE COMMENT BY THE POET ADRIENNE RICH, “READ”, SHE SAID, “AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDED ON IT.”

 

 

WHEN IT’S ALL OVER THERE IS INTENSITY TO LIFE AND EVERYTHING IS TO BE DONE AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.”

 

 

LISCHER GOES ON TO SAY:

 

 

“IN THE LIBRARY OF GETTYSBURH COLLEGE IN GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, THEY CAN SHOW YOU THE BLOODSTAINS IN THEIR BOOKS. THE STAINS RUN DEEP IN THEIR PAGES BECAUSE IN THE BATTLE SO MANY WERE WOUNDED THAT THE NURSES RAN OUT OF PILLOWS. SO THEY TOOK BOOKS FROM THE SHELVES IN THE LIBRARY AND LAID THE HEADS OF THE WOUNDED ON THEM. THE CHURCH’S BOOK TOO, IS STAINED AND PENETRATED BY THE COST OF GOD’S LOVE. FROM THE BEGINNING TO END, THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT WITNESSES TO THE COST. THEAT IS WHY WE READ IT – BECAUSE OUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT.”

 

 

IT IS ALL OVER IN A WAY, AND THAT’S THE REASON THIS SERVICE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND THAT’S WHY WE ARE PROBABLY THE MOST FORTUNATE OF ALL WHO COME TO WORSHIP ON EASTER.

 

 

WE KNOW THE DARKNESS THAT WELCOMES US TO EASTER SUNDAY. IT IS EARLY IN THE MORNING ON SUNDAY, AND IT IS ALL OVER.

 

 

BUT THEN IT STRIKES US AND IT HITS US VERY HARD. IN A WAY IT IS NOT ALL OVER, IT IS JUST BEGINNING.

 

 

LUKE TELLS US “THE WOMEN REMEMBERED HOW HE TOLD THEM HE WOULD BE CRUCIFIED AND THEN HE WOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD.”

 

 

IN OTHER WORDS, JESUS WAS AWARE THAT THEY WOULD IMAGINE IT WAS ALL OVER BUT HE KNEW IT WAS JUST BEGINNING.

 

 

I REMEMBER HOW KAREN THOUGHT HER LIFE WAS OVER. I RECALL HOW SHE SAID SHE HAD WRITTEN THE LAST CHAPTER.

 

 

AND THEN SHE MET A MAN WHO ASKED HER TO SPEND HER LIFE WITH HIM. AND THEY WERE MARRIED OUTSIDE BY A WATERFALL IN THE SUMMER OF THE YEAR THREE YEARS LATER. AND I REMEMBER HOW SHE SAID TO ME, “I THOUGHT MY BOOK WAS FINISHED. I THOUGHT I HAD READ THE LAST CHAPTER OF MY BOOK, AND THEN I FOUND NEW CHAPTERS AFTER MY LAST CHAPTER.”

 

 

SHE DISCOVERED HER LIFE WAS JUST BEGINNING AND IN A NEW WAY.

 

 

WE HAVE HAD AN EASTER EGG HUNT HERE. WE HAVE IT ON PALM SUNDAY-SATURDAY. WE HAVE AN EASTER EGG HUNT AND, IN SOME WAYS, THAT’S A LOT OF SILLINESS ABOUT RABBITS AND HIDING AND FINDING. IT IS A MAD SCRAMBLE FOR CHILDREN THAT CAN BREED GLUTTONY BUT IT COULD BOAST OF SHARING.

 

 

JAMES CRENSHAW DESCRIBES LIFE AS AN EASTER EGG HUNT. HE SAYS, “EVERYONE RUSHES OUT IN THE MORNING WITH AN EMPTY BASKET, AND SEARCHES FRANTICALLY, GROWING INCREASINGLY DISCOURAGED. THEN WE HEAR SOMEONE SAY, “HEY, I FOUND ONE.”AND THAT RENEWS THE SEARCH.” CRENSHAW SUGGESTS THAT WE ALL GO HOME WITH EMPTY BASKETS. I HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW.

 

 

WE ALL GO HOME WITH BASKETS FULL. EASTER BRINGS US TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF ABUNDANCE. WE ALL GO HOME WITH BASKETS FULL FOR WE HAVE BEEN REMINDED THAT IT’S A NEW BEGINNING.

 

 

IT’S JUST BEGINNING FOR US.

 

TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING BRAND NEW, AND WE HAVE A CHANCE TO ENJOY IT.

 

TODAY WE LOOK AT WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE LAST CHAPTER OF OUR LIVES, AND AS PEOPLE OF FAITH, WE NEED THERE IS A NEW CHAPTER THAT HAS STARTED. IT HAS A TITLE. IT HAS SOME OPENING THOUGHTS, AND IT IS BETTER THAN ANY CHAPTER WE HAVE LIVED IN THE PAST.

 

 

THOSE WOMEN AND WE HAVE COME TO THIS DAY THINKING IT WAS OVER, AND THE DARKNESS HAD WON. BUT IT WAS EARLY ON SUNDAY MORNING WHEN WE ARRIVED, AND THE SUN CAME UP, AND NOW WE SEE IT IS NOT OVER, BUT IT IS JUST BEGINNING.

 

 

I CLOSE WITH A THOUGHT FROM BARBARA BROWN TAYLOR IN HER MEMOIR OF FAITH.

 

 

“A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, A STIFF WIND BLEW A HOMING PIGEON OFF COURSE. I WAS JUST STANDING THERE IN THE GARDEN WHEN SHE DROPPED FROM THE SKY WITH A WHIRR AND LOOKED AT ME AS IF I SHOULD KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH HER.

 

 

I COULD SEE THE ORANGE BAND ON HER LEG, BUT SHE WOULD NOT LET ME CATCH HER SO I COULD READ IT.

 

 

I WAS SURE SHE WOULD BE ON HER WAY AS SOON AS THE WEATHER IMPROVED, BUT INSTEAD SHE STUCK AROUND. FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS SHE MET ME EVERY AFTERNOON FOR A LITTLE VISIT OVER CRACKED CORN.

 

 

SHE WAS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT KIND OF BIRD FROM THE ONES I WAS USED TO. SHE WAS NOT WOUNDED, SHE WAS NOT TAME, AND SHE WAS NOT WILD. SHE DID NOT NEED ME TO TAKE CARE OF HER.

 

SHE LEFT ME NO EGGS. WHEN THE WILD GEESE FLEW OVER, SHE AND I BOTH LOOKED UP AT THEM. WHEN THE RED-TAILED HAWK CRIED, WE GAVE A LITTLE START. FOR REASONS BEYOND MY UNDERSTANDING, SHE SEEMED TO ENJOY MY COMPANY. FOR THE SAME REASONS, I ENJOYED HERS. SHE WAS A MESSAGE I COULD NOT READ, BUT SHE WAS SENT TO ME NONETHELESS, AND SIMPLY TO SEE HER SEEMED BLESSING ENOUGH.

 

 

NOW THE WIND HAS TAKEN HER AWAY AGAIN. AT LEAST I HOPE IT WAS THE WIND AND NOT A FOX. THE CHICKENS AND I ARE BACK TO OUR DAILY ROUTINE, WHICH IS PLEASANT ENOUGH. STILL, I CANNOT WALK DOWN TO THE GARDEN WITHOUT HOPING TO BE STARTLED BY THAT DESCENDING COMMOTION OF BEATING WINGS AND LOOSE FEATHERS, SETTLING INTO SOMETHING LIKE A DOVE WITH A MESSAGE FOR ME.

 

 

SHE CAME ONCE, SO I KNOW SHE CAN COME AGAIN.

 

 

I KEEP A HANDFUL OF CRACKED CORN IN MY POCKET, JUST IN CASE.”

 

 

HE CAME ONCE.

 

 

THEY PUT HIM ON A CROSS.

 

 

WE THOUGHT IT WAS OVER.

 

 

BUT IT WASN’T OVER.

 

 

EASTER BEGAN EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND AS THE MORNING LIGHT OVERTOOK THE SKY AND NIGHT GAVE WAY TO DAY, SOMETHING HAD CHANGED; FOR THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB; FOR THE DISCIPLES WHO HAD RUN AWAY; AND FOR US.

 

 

IT WASN’T OVER.

 

NOT EVEN CLOSE.

 

 

IN FACT, IT WAS JUST BEGINNING.

 

 

 

 This is a first stab at the sermon and I had to get on it early in the week since I have two sermons to write. I will put some ideas in “Build a Sermon” on the 8,9:30, and 11 Easter sermons on Friday.

 

If you have some thoughts about what I’ve written email me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have your ideas shared by the congregation click on the “comments” box below.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Charles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due to the fact that I have two sermons to write for  Easter Sunday I have had to move forward more rapidly than usual. I have written a first draft of the Sunrise Sermon. It will be a part of the 6 am worship service. This is a very rough draft but it is where the sermon is at this point. I will be working on it and appreciate your thoughts. Also I am working on the other sermon for the 8, 9:30, and 11:00 worship services. I will put some of the work on those sermons on Friday.                                                                                            

The script is all capitol letters. I may use the computer page for the manuscript instead of the hand written style in to which the sermons are usuallyformed.

EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE

 

 

 

2007

 

 

 

Charles Schuster

 

 

 

“EASTER IS FOR EARLY RISERS”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“IT WAS VERY EARLY ON SUNDAY MORNING AND THE WOMEN WENT TO THE TOMB WITH SPICES”. THEY HAD COME TO THE TOMB TO GET READY FOR A FUNERAL. THEY CAME EARLY IN THE MORNING FOR ONE PURPOSE. THEY FOUND WHEN THEY ARRIVED IT WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING. THEY WERE SURPRISED.

 

 

THE LAST TIME I DREW THE ASSIGNMENT OF PREACHING A SERMON AT AN ODD HOUR IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE AT 11 PM. I REMEMBER THAT NIGHT. YOU MAY REMEMBER IT TOO. SOME OF YOU WERE THERE THEN.

 

 

I MADE SOME COMMENT ABOUT HOW I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO PREACHING A SERMON TO THE CROWD THAT CAME TO THE MIDNIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE BECAUSE I SUSPECTED THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THAT SERVICE ARE THE MOST RIGHTEOUS; THE MOST DEDICATED; THEY ARE THE TRUE BELIEVERS.

 

 

FOR THE OTHERS, ON CHRISTMAS EVE IT’S A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE; THE SERVICE IS BUILT AROUND SUCH THINGS AS FAMILY DINNERS AND GIFT EXCHANGING AND PACKAGE OPENING AND SANTA CLAUS ARRIVING. THERE’S A TURKEY TO CARVE AND SINCE WE HAD WORSHIP AT 8 AND 9 AND 3 AND 5 AND 7 YOU COULD KIND OF FIT IT IN.

 

 

BUT THE MIDNIGHT PEOPLE WERE THE OBDURATE BELIEVERS WHO HAD COME TO THE SERVICE TO WORSHIP GOD IN THE QUIET OF THE FINAL HOUR OF THE EVE.

 

 

WE HAD BEEN BURRIED IN SNOW. IT STARTED TO SNOW ON THE 20^TH OF DECEMBER AND IT SNOWED ON THE 24^TH, AND THERE WAS ALMOST A YARD OF SNOW ON THE GROUND; 30 SOME INCHES OF SNOW. MORE SNOW THAN WE HAD EVER SEEN ON THE GROUND AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO PREACH A SERMON AT 5 O’CLOCK AND 7 O’CLOCK AND 11 O’CLOCK ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

 

 

I REMEMBER BEING AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR. WHEN I WAS AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR I GOT THE SERVICES THAT WERE HELD AT ODD TIMES LIKE THAT. I DID THE FUNERALS IN THE RAIN. I DID THE WEDDINGS IN THE MOUNTAINS WHEN THE MOSQUITOES WERE ACTIVE. I DID THE BAPTISMS IN THE BACKYARD OF THE FAMILY HOME FROM THE BIRD BATH THAT HAD COME OVER ON THE MAYFLOWER. I BLESSED THE HOME WHEN A COUPLE NEEDED TO HAVE A HOUSE BLESSING, AND I WAS THE ONE BLESSING THE HOME WHEN THE PET BOA GOT INTO A BATTLE TO THE DEATH WITH THE PET PYTHON. THE CEREMONEY WAS HELD UP WHILE WE SEPARATED THE TWO CONTRICTERS. I WAS THE ONE THAT GOT BITTEN. WHEN I WAS AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR I GOT ASSIGNED TO DO THE SERVICES AT ODD TIMES LIKE MID-NIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE.

 

 

ACTUALLY, I COULD HAVE ASSIGNED THIS TASK TO AN ASSOCIATE; THEY WERE PREPARED TO TAKE IT ON. SOME OF THEM SAID THEY WOULD DO IT. SOME OF THEM SAID THEY WANTED TO DO SUNRISE ON EASTER. BUT I PUSHED THEM OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE I WANTED THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING HERE WITH YOU ON EASTER SUNDAY.

 

 

I THINK WE ARE THE FIRST ONES TO CELEBRATE EASTER AND WE ARE CELEBRATING IT WHEN IT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED.

 

 

WE ARE HERE VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING AND WE HAVE COME HERE FOR A SPECIFIC REASON.

 

 

THERE IS A PROBLEM, HOWEVER. THE PROBLEM IS WE KNOW THE OUTCOME, AND IF WE FORGET THE LINK BETWEEN GOOD FRIDAY, AND EASTER WE WILL MISS THE CELEBRATION.

 

 

SO THIS MORNING IN THE DARK, I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT THOSE WOMEN WHO CAME TO THE TOMB AND WHY THEY CAME.

 

 

I WANT US TO THINK OF THE DARK DAYS OF OUR LIVES AND WHAT WE THOUGHT AS WE LIVED THEM.

 

 

IF WE CAME HERE IN THE DARK, AND IF WE ARRIVED AS THE WOMEN ARRIVED WITH SPICES AND WITH A PURPOSE, WE CAME THINKING IT WAS ALL OVER.

 

 

THE DREAM WAS DEAD; AS DEAD AS JESUS WAS DEAD UPON THE CROSS. THE DREAM WAS DEAD AND IT WAS ALL OVER.

 

 

EVER FEEL THIS WAY?

 

 

I REMEMBER A CALL I GOT ONE NIGHT. IT WAS FROM A YOUNG MAN; A YOUNG MAN IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THE WORDS HE SPOKE HAUNT ME STILL. HE SAID, “REVEREND SCHUSTER”—ACTUALLY HE SAID—“CHUCK, MY FATHER IS DEAD.”

 

 

I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, “WAIT A MINUTE. DICK HOUSAM IS NOT DEAD. HE WAS NOT ILL. HE COULD NOT BE DEAD.”

 

 

“RYAN, WHAT HAPPENED?”

 

“IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.”

 

 

DICK HOWSAM WAS THE SON OF ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE BRONCOS BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN THEY WORE THE VERTICAL STRIPED SOCKS. DICK WAS A BANKER AND HE CARRIED LARGE SUMS OF MONEY AND BECAUSE OF THAT, HE CARRIED A GUN. HE CARRIED HIS GUN IN A GYM BAG. HE HAD BEEN AT THE GYM WORKING OUT. HE FINISHED UP AND HE GOT INTO HIS CAR AND HE THREW HIS GYM BAG INTO THE BACK SEAT OF HIS CAR, AND SOMEHOW THE GUN DISCHARGED AND A BULLET CAME OUT OF HIS GYM BAG AND IT WENT THROUGH HIS HEART AND HE DIED INSTANTLY.

 

 

I REMEMBER MEETING WITH THE FAMILY AND PLANNING THE FUNERAL. I RECALL ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CAME. PEOPLE DICK’S AGE; YOU KNOW 40 YEARS OLD AND AT THE PEAK OF THEIR LIVES.

 

 

I REMEMBER TALKING WITH KAREN, DICK’S WIFE, AND HOW SHE SAID, “THIS IS THE END FOR ME. IT’S OVER; IT’S ALL OVER.”

 

 

THAT’S WHAT EASTER BRINGS TO US TODAY. THE IDEA THAT IT’S ALL OVER.

 

 

RICHARD LISCHER WROTE A BOOK ENTITLED THE END OF WORDS. RICHARD LISCHER TEACHES PREACHING AT THE DIVINITY SCHOOL AT DUKE. HE WRITES, “IN CONVERSATIONS WITH A TERMINALLY ILL FRIEND. I NOTICE THAT SHE READ THE BIBLE DIFFERENTLY THAN I AND RADICALLY SO. AS A MATTER OF THEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLE WE BOTH ACKNOWLEDGED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GOSPEL IN THE BIBLE, BUT SHE CLUNG TO IT AND CLAIMED IT AS HER PERSONAL PRIZE. MY FRIEND READ THE BIBLE WITH AN EVANGELICAL TENACITY THAT ALLOWED HER TO DISCOVER THE PROMISE OF GOD IN ANY PASSAGE, EVEN THOSE WHOSE SURFACE DETAILS SEEMED FAR REMOVED FROM THE GOSPEL. HER THEOLOGICAL INSTINCTS TOLD HER THAT THE BIBLE WAS PRESERVED AS A TESTIMONY TO GOD’S FAITHFULNESS. READING IT WAS AN EVERYDAY EXERCISE IN PRAYING AND CLAIMING AND BEING CLAIMED, WHICH IS WHAT IT SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONE WHO OPENS THE BOOK, EVEN BUSY PREACHERS. MY FRIEND WOULD HAVE SECONDED THE COMMENT BY THE POET ADRIENNE RICH, “READ”, SHE SAID, “AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDED ON IT.”

 

 

WHEN IT’S ALL OVER THERE IS INTENSITY TO LIFE AND EVERYTHING IS TO BE DONE AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.”

 

 

LISCHER GOES ON TO SAY:

 

 

“IN THE LIBRARY OF GETTYSBURH COLLEGE IN GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, THEY CAN SHOW YOU THE BLOODSTAINS IN THEIR BOOKS. THE STAINS RUN DEEP IN THEIR PAGES BECAUSE IN THE BATTLE SO MANY WERE WOUNDED THAT THE NURSES RAN OUT OF PILLOWS. SO THEY TOOK BOOKS FROM THE SHELVES IN THE LIBRARY AND LAID THE HEADS OF THE WOUNDED ON THEM. THE CHURCH’S BOOK TOO, IS STAINED AND PENETRATED BY THE COST OF GOD’S LOVE. FROM THE BEGINNING TO END, THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT WITNESSES TO THE COST. THEAT IS WHY WE READ IT – BECAUSE OUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT.”

 

 

IT IS ALL OVER IN A WAY, AND THAT’S THE REASON THIS SERVICE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND THAT’S WHY WE ARE PROBABLY THE MOST FORTUNATE OF ALL WHO COME TO WORSHIP ON EASTER.

 

 

WE KNOW THE DARKNESS THAT WELCOMES US TO EASTER SUNDAY. IT IS EARLY IN THE MORNING ON SUNDAY, AND IT IS ALL OVER.

 

 

BUT THEN IT STRIKES US AND IT HITS US VERY HARD. IN A WAY IT IS NOT ALL OVER, IT IS JUST BEGINNING.

 

 

LUKE TELLS US “THE WOMEN REMEMBERED HOW HE TOLD THEM HE WOULD BE CRUCIFIED AND THEN HE WOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD.”

 

 

IN OTHER WORDS, JESUS WAS AWARE THAT THEY WOULD IMAGINE IT WAS ALL OVER BUT HE KNEW IT WAS JUST BEGINNING.

 

 

I REMEMBER HOW KAREN THOUGHT HER LIFE WAS OVER. I RECALL HOW SHE SAID SHE HAD WRITTEN THE LAST CHAPTER.

 

 

AND THEN SHE MET A MAN WHO ASKED HER TO SPEND HER LIFE WITH HIM. AND THEY WERE MARRIED OUTSIDE BY A WATERFALL IN THE SUMMER OF THE YEAR THREE YEARS LATER. AND I REMEMBER HOW SHE SAID TO ME, “I THOUGHT MY BOOK WAS FINISHED. I THOUGHT I HAD READ THE LAST CHAPTER OF MY BOOK, AND THEN I FOUND NEW CHAPTERS AFTER MY LAST CHAPTER.”

 

 

SHE DISCOVERED HER LIFE WAS JUST BEGINNING AND IN A NEW WAY.

 

 

WE HAVE HAD AN EASTER EGG HUNT HERE. WE HAVE IT ON PALM SUNDAY-SATURDAY. WE HAVE AN EASTER EGG HUNT AND, IN SOME WAYS, THAT’S A LOT OF SILLINESS ABOUT RABBITS AND HIDING AND FINDING. IT IS A MAD SCRAMBLE FOR CHILDREN THAT CAN BREED GLUTTONY BUT IT COULD BOAST OF SHARING.

 

 

JAMES CRENSHAW DESCRIBES LIFE AS AN EASTER EGG HUNT. HE SAYS, “EVERYONE RUSHES OUT IN THE MORNING WITH AN EMPTY BASKET, AND SEARCHES FRANTICALLY, GROWING INCREASINGLY DISCOURAGED. THEN WE HEAR SOMEONE SAY, “HEY, I FOUND ONE.”AND THAT RENEWS THE SEARCH.” CRENSHAW SUGGESTS THAT WE ALL GO HOME WITH EMPTY BASKETS. I HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW.

 

 

WE ALL GO HOME WITH BASKETS FULL. EASTER BRINGS US TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF ABUNDANCE. WE ALL GO HOME WITH BASKETS FULL FOR WE HAVE BEEN REMINDED THAT IT’S A NEW BEGINNING.

 

 

IT’S JUST BEGINNING FOR US.

 

TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING BRAND NEW, AND WE HAVE A CHANCE TO ENJOY IT.

 

TODAY WE LOOK AT WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE LAST CHAPTER OF OUR LIVES, AND AS PEOPLE OF FAITH, WE NEED THERE IS A NEW CHAPTER THAT HAS STARTED. IT HAS A TITLE. IT HAS SOME OPENING THOUGHTS, AND IT IS BETTER THAN ANY CHAPTER WE HAVE LIVED IN THE PAST.

 

 

THOSE WOMEN AND WE HAVE COME TO THIS DAY THINKING IT WAS OVER, AND THE DARKNESS HAD WON. BUT IT WAS EARLY ON SUNDAY MORNING WHEN WE ARRIVED, AND THE SUN CAME UP, AND NOW WE SEE IT IS NOT OVER, BUT IT IS JUST BEGINNING.

 

 

I CLOSE WITH A THOUGHT FROM BARBARA BROWN TAYLOR IN HER MEMOIR OF FAITH.

 

 

“A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, A STIFF WIND BLEW A HOMING PIGEON OFF COURSE. I WAS JUST STANDING THERE IN THE GARDEN WHEN SHE DROPPED FROM THE SKY WITH A WHIRR AND LOOKED AT ME AS IF I SHOULD KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH HER.

 

 

I COULD SEE THE ORANGE BAND ON HER LEG, BUT SHE WOULD NOT LET ME CATCH HER SO I COULD READ IT.

 

 

I WAS SURE SHE WOULD BE ON HER WAY AS SOON AS THE WEATHER IMPROVED, BUT INSTEAD SHE STUCK AROUND. FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS SHE MET ME EVERY AFTERNOON FOR A LITTLE VISIT OVER CRACKED CORN.

 

 

SHE WAS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT KIND OF BIRD FROM THE ONES I WAS USED TO. SHE WAS NOT WOUNDED, SHE WAS NOT TAME, AND SHE WAS NOT WILD. SHE DID NOT NEED ME TO TAKE CARE OF HER.

 

SHE LEFT ME NO EGGS. WHEN THE WILD GEESE FLEW OVER, SHE AND I BOTH LOOKED UP AT THEM. WHEN THE RED-TAILED HAWK CRIED, WE GAVE A LITTLE START. FOR REASONS BEYOND MY UNDERSTANDING, SHE SEEMED TO ENJOY MY COMPANY. FOR THE SAME REASONS, I ENJOYED HERS. SHE WAS A MESSAGE I COULD NOT READ, BUT SHE WAS SENT TO ME NONETHELESS, AND SIMPLY TO SEE HER SEEMED BLESSING ENOUGH.

 

 

NOW THE WIND HAS TAKEN HER AWAY AGAIN. AT LEAST I HOPE IT WAS THE WIND AND NOT A FOX. THE CHICKENS AND I ARE BACK TO OUR DAILY ROUTINE, WHICH IS PLEASANT ENOUGH. STILL, I CANNOT WALK DOWN TO THE GARDEN WITHOUT HOPING TO BE STARTLED BY THAT DESCENDING COMMOTION OF BEATING WINGS AND LOOSE FEATHERS, SETTLING INTO SOMETHING LIKE A DOVE WITH A MESSAGE FOR ME.

 

 

SHE CAME ONCE, SO I KNOW SHE CAN COME AGAIN.

 

 

I KEEP A HANDFUL OF CRACKED CORN IN MY POCKET, JUST IN CASE.”

 

 

HE CAME ONCE.

 

 

THEY PUT HIM ON A CROSS.

 

 

WE THOUGHT IT WAS OVER.

 

 

BUT IT WASN’T OVER.

 

 

EASTER BEGAN EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND AS THE MORNING LIGHT OVERTOOK THE SKY AND NIGHT GAVE WAY TO DAY, SOMETHING HAD CHANGED; FOR THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB; FOR THE DISCIPLES WHO HAD RUN AWAY; AND FOR US.

 

 

IT WASN’T OVER.

 

NOT EVEN CLOSE.

 

 

IN FACT, IT WAS JUST BEGINNING.

 

 

EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE

 

 

 

2007

 

 

 

Charles Schuster

 

 

 

“EASTER IS FOR EARLY RISERS”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“IT WAS VERY EARLY ON SUNDAY MORNING AND THE WOMEN WENT TO THE TOMB WITH SPICES”. THEY HAD COME TO THE TOMB TO GET READY FOR A FUNERAL. THEY CAME EARLY IN THE MORNING FOR ONE PURPOSE. THEY FOUND WHEN THEY ARRIVED IT WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING. THEY WERE SURPRISED.

 

 

THE LAST TIME I DREW THE ASSIGNMENT OF PREACHING A SERMON AT AN ODD HOUR IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE AT 11 PM. I REMEMBER THAT NIGHT. YOU MAY REMEMBER IT TOO. SOME OF YOU WERE THERE THEN.

 

 

I MADE SOME COMMENT ABOUT HOW I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO PREACHING A SERMON TO THE CROWD THAT CAME TO THE MIDNIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE BECAUSE I SUSPECTED THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THAT SERVICE ARE THE MOST RIGHTEOUS; THE MOST DEDICATED; THEY ARE THE TRUE BELIEVERS.

 

 

FOR THE OTHERS, ON CHRISTMAS EVE IT’S A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE; THE SERVICE IS BUILT AROUND SUCH THINGS AS FAMILY DINNERS AND GIFT EXCHANGING AND PACKAGE OPENING AND SANTA CLAUS ARRIVING. THERE’S A TURKEY TO CARVE AND SINCE WE HAD WORSHIP AT 8 AND 9 AND 3 AND 5 AND 7 YOU COULD KIND OF FIT IT IN.

 

 

BUT THE MIDNIGHT PEOPLE WERE THE OBDURATE BELIEVERS WHO HAD COME TO THE SERVICE TO WORSHIP GOD IN THE QUIET OF THE FINAL HOUR OF THE EVE.

 

 

WE HAD BEEN BURRIED IN SNOW. IT STARTED TO SNOW ON THE 20^TH OF DECEMBER AND IT SNOWED ON THE 24^TH, AND THERE WAS ALMOST A YARD OF SNOW ON THE GROUND; 30 SOME INCHES OF SNOW. MORE SNOW THAN WE HAD EVER SEEN ON THE GROUND AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO PREACH A SERMON AT 5 O’CLOCK AND 7 O’CLOCK AND 11 O’CLOCK ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

 

 

I REMEMBER BEING AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR. WHEN I WAS AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR I GOT THE SERVICES THAT WERE HELD AT ODD TIMES LIKE THAT. I DID THE FUNERALS IN THE RAIN. I DID THE WEDDINGS IN THE MOUNTAINS WHEN THE MOSQUITOES WERE ACTIVE. I DID THE BAPTISMS IN THE BACKYARD OF THE FAMILY HOME FROM THE BIRD BATH THAT HAD COME OVER ON THE MAYFLOWER. I BLESSED THE HOME WHEN A COUPLE NEEDED TO HAVE A HOUSE BLESSING, AND I WAS THE ONE BLESSING THE HOME WHEN THE PET BOA GOT INTO A BATTLE TO THE DEATH WITH THE PET PYTHON. THE CEREMONEY WAS HELD UP WHILE WE SEPARATED THE TWO CONTRICTERS. I WAS THE ONE THAT GOT BITTEN. WHEN I WAS AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR I GOT ASSIGNED TO DO THE SERVICES AT ODD TIMES LIKE MID-NIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE.

 

 

ACTUALLY, I COULD HAVE ASSIGNED THIS TASK TO AN ASSOCIATE; THEY WERE PREPARED TO TAKE IT ON. SOME OF THEM SAID THEY WOULD DO IT. SOME OF THEM SAID THEY WANTED TO DO SUNRISE ON EASTER. BUT I PUSHED THEM OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE I WANTED THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING HERE WITH YOU ON EASTER SUNDAY.

 

 

I THINK WE ARE THE FIRST ONES TO CELEBRATE EASTER AND WE ARE CELEBRATING IT WHEN IT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED.

 

 

WE ARE HERE VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING AND WE HAVE COME HERE FOR A SPECIFIC REASON.

 

 

THERE IS A PROBLEM, HOWEVER. THE PROBLEM IS WE KNOW THE OUTCOME, AND IF WE FORGET THE LINK BETWEEN GOOD FRIDAY, AND EASTER WE WILL MISS THE CELEBRATION.

 

 

SO THIS MORNING IN THE DARK, I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT THOSE WOMEN WHO CAME TO THE TOMB AND WHY THEY CAME.

 

 

I WANT US TO THINK OF THE DARK DAYS OF OUR LIVES AND WHAT WE THOUGHT AS WE LIVED THEM.

 

 

IF WE CAME HERE IN THE DARK, AND IF WE ARRIVED AS THE WOMEN ARRIVED WITH SPICES AND WITH A PURPOSE, WE CAME THINKING IT WAS ALL OVER.

 

 

THE DREAM WAS DEAD; AS DEAD AS JESUS WAS DEAD UPON THE CROSS. THE DREAM WAS DEAD AND IT WAS ALL OVER.

 

 

EVER FEEL THIS WAY?

 

 

I REMEMBER A CALL I GOT ONE NIGHT. IT WAS FROM A YOUNG MAN; A YOUNG MAN IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THE WORDS HE SPOKE HAUNT ME STILL. HE SAID, “REVEREND SCHUSTER”—ACTUALLY HE SAID—“CHUCK, MY FATHER IS DEAD.”

 

 

I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, “WAIT A MINUTE. DICK HOUSAM IS NOT DEAD. HE WAS NOT ILL. HE COULD NOT BE DEAD.”

 

 

“RYAN, WHAT HAPPENED?”

 

“IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.”

 

 

DICK HOWSAM WAS THE SON OF ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE BRONCOS BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN THEY WORE THE VERTICAL STRIPED SOCKS. DICK WAS A BANKER AND HE CARRIED LARGE SUMS OF MONEY AND BECAUSE OF THAT, HE CARRIED A GUN. HE CARRIED HIS GUN IN A GYM BAG. HE HAD BEEN AT THE GYM WORKING OUT. HE FINISHED UP AND HE GOT INTO HIS CAR AND HE THREW HIS GYM BAG INTO THE BACK SEAT OF HIS CAR, AND SOMEHOW THE GUN DISCHARGED AND A BULLET CAME OUT OF HIS GYM BAG AND IT WENT THROUGH HIS HEART AND HE DIED INSTANTLY.

 

 

I REMEMBER MEETING WITH THE FAMILY AND PLANNING THE FUNERAL. I RECALL ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CAME. PEOPLE DICK’S AGE; YOU KNOW 40 YEARS OLD AND AT THE PEAK OF THEIR LIVES.

 

 

I REMEMBER TALKING WITH KAREN, DICK’S WIFE, AND HOW SHE SAID, “THIS IS THE END FOR ME. IT’S OVER; IT’S ALL OVER.”

 

 

THAT’S WHAT EASTER BRINGS TO US TODAY. THE IDEA THAT IT’S ALL OVER.

 

 

RICHARD LISCHER WROTE A BOOK ENTITLED THE END OF WORDS. RICHARD LISCHER TEACHES PREACHING AT THE DIVINITY SCHOOL AT DUKE. HE WRITES, “IN CONVERSATIONS WITH A TERMINALLY ILL FRIEND. I NOTICE THAT SHE READ THE BIBLE DIFFERENTLY THAN I AND RADICALLY SO. AS A MATTER OF THEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLE WE BOTH ACKNOWLEDGED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GOSPEL IN THE BIBLE, BUT SHE CLUNG TO IT AND CLAIMED IT AS HER PERSONAL PRIZE. MY FRIEND READ THE BIBLE WITH AN EVANGELICAL TENACITY THAT ALLOWED HER TO DISCOVER THE PROMISE OF GOD IN ANY PASSAGE, EVEN THOSE WHOSE SURFACE DETAILS SEEMED FAR REMOVED FROM THE GOSPEL. HER THEOLOGICAL INSTINCTS TOLD HER THAT THE BIBLE WAS PRESERVED AS A TESTIMONY TO GOD’S FAITHFULNESS. READING IT WAS AN EVERYDAY EXERCISE IN PRAYING AND CLAIMING AND BEING CLAIMED, WHICH IS WHAT IT SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONE WHO OPENS THE BOOK, EVEN BUSY PREACHERS. MY FRIEND WOULD HAVE SECONDED THE COMMENT BY THE POET ADRIENNE RICH, “READ”, SHE SAID, “AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDED ON IT.”

 

 

WHEN IT’S ALL OVER THERE IS INTENSITY TO LIFE AND EVERYTHING IS TO BE DONE AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.”

 

 

LISCHER GOES ON TO SAY:

 

 

“IN THE LIBRARY OF GETTYSBURH COLLEGE IN GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, THEY CAN SHOW YOU THE BLOODSTAINS IN THEIR BOOKS. THE STAINS RUN DEEP IN THEIR PAGES BECAUSE IN THE BATTLE SO MANY WERE WOUNDED THAT THE NURSES RAN OUT OF PILLOWS. SO THEY TOOK BOOKS FROM THE SHELVES IN THE LIBRARY AND LAID THE HEADS OF THE WOUNDED ON THEM. THE CHURCH’S BOOK TOO, IS STAINED AND PENETRATED BY THE COST OF GOD’S LOVE. FROM THE BEGINNING TO END, THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT WITNESSES TO THE COST. THEAT IS WHY WE READ IT – BECAUSE OUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT.”

 

 

IT IS ALL OVER IN A WAY, AND THAT’S THE REASON THIS SERVICE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND THAT’S WHY WE ARE PROBABLY THE MOST FORTUNATE OF ALL WHO COME TO WORSHIP ON EASTER.

 

 

WE KNOW THE DARKNESS THAT WELCOMES US TO EASTER SUNDAY. IT IS EARLY IN THE MORNING ON SUNDAY, AND IT IS ALL OVER.

 

 

BUT THEN IT STRIKES US AND IT HITS US VERY HARD. IN A WAY IT IS NOT ALL OVER, IT IS JUST BEGINNING.

 

 

LUKE TELLS US “THE WOMEN REMEMBERED HOW HE TOLD THEM HE WOULD BE CRUCIFIED AND THEN HE WOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD.”

 

 

IN OTHER WORDS, JESUS WAS AWARE THAT THEY WOULD IMAGINE IT WAS ALL OVER BUT HE KNEW IT WAS JUST BEGINNING.

 

 

I REMEMBER HOW KAREN THOUGHT HER LIFE WAS OVER. I RECALL HOW SHE SAID SHE HAD WRITTEN THE LAST CHAPTER.

 

 

AND THEN SHE MET A MAN WHO ASKED HER TO SPEND HER LIFE WITH HIM. AND THEY WERE MARRIED OUTSIDE BY A WATERFALL IN THE SUMMER OF THE YEAR THREE YEARS LATER. AND I REMEMBER HOW SHE SAID TO ME, “I THOUGHT MY BOOK WAS FINISHED. I THOUGHT I HAD READ THE LAST CHAPTER OF MY BOOK, AND THEN I FOUND NEW CHAPTERS AFTER MY LAST CHAPTER.”

 

 

SHE DISCOVERED HER LIFE WAS JUST BEGINNING AND IN A NEW WAY.

 

 

WE HAVE HAD AN EASTER EGG HUNT HERE. WE HAVE IT ON PALM SUNDAY-SATURDAY. WE HAVE AN EASTER EGG HUNT AND, IN SOME WAYS, THAT’S A LOT OF SILLINESS ABOUT RABBITS AND HIDING AND FINDING. IT IS A MAD SCRAMBLE FOR CHILDREN THAT CAN BREED GLUTTONY BUT IT COULD BOAST OF SHARING.

 

 

JAMES CRENSHAW DESCRIBES LIFE AS AN EASTER EGG HUNT. HE SAYS, “EVERYONE RUSHES OUT IN THE MORNING WITH AN EMPTY BASKET, AND SEARCHES FRANTICALLY, GROWING INCREASINGLY DISCOURAGED. THEN WE HEAR SOMEONE SAY, “HEY, I FOUND ONE.”AND THAT RENEWS THE SEARCH.” CRENSHAW SUGGESTS THAT WE ALL GO HOME WITH EMPTY BASKETS. I HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW.

 

 

WE ALL GO HOME WITH BASKETS FULL. EASTER BRINGS US TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF ABUNDANCE. WE ALL GO HOME WITH BASKETS FULL FOR WE HAVE BEEN REMINDED THAT IT’S A NEW BEGINNING.

 

 

IT’S JUST BEGINNING FOR US.

 

TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING BRAND NEW, AND WE HAVE A CHANCE TO ENJOY IT.

 

TODAY WE LOOK AT WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE LAST CHAPTER OF OUR LIVES, AND AS PEOPLE OF FAITH, WE NEED THERE IS A NEW CHAPTER THAT HAS STARTED. IT HAS A TITLE. IT HAS SOME OPENING THOUGHTS, AND IT IS BETTER THAN ANY CHAPTER WE HAVE LIVED IN THE PAST.

 

 

THOSE WOMEN AND WE HAVE COME TO THIS DAY THINKING IT WAS OVER, AND THE DARKNESS HAD WON. BUT IT WAS EARLY ON SUNDAY MORNING WHEN WE ARRIVED, AND THE SUN CAME UP, AND NOW WE SEE IT IS NOT OVER, BUT IT IS JUST BEGINNING.

 

 

I CLOSE WITH A THOUGHT FROM BARBARA BROWN TAYLOR IN HER MEMOIR OF FAITH.

 

 

“A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, A STIFF WIND BLEW A HOMING PIGEON OFF COURSE. I WAS JUST STANDING THERE IN THE GARDEN WHEN SHE DROPPED FROM THE SKY WITH A WHIRR AND LOOKED AT ME AS IF I SHOULD KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH HER.

 

 

I COULD SEE THE ORANGE BAND ON HER LEG, BUT SHE WOULD NOT LET ME CATCH HER SO I COULD READ IT.

 

 

I WAS SURE SHE WOULD BE ON HER WAY AS SOON AS THE WEATHER IMPROVED, BUT INSTEAD SHE STUCK AROUND. FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS SHE MET ME EVERY AFTERNOON FOR A LITTLE VISIT OVER CRACKED CORN.

 

 

SHE WAS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT KIND OF BIRD FROM THE ONES I WAS USED TO. SHE WAS NOT WOUNDED, SHE WAS NOT TAME, AND SHE WAS NOT WILD. SHE DID NOT NEED ME TO TAKE CARE OF HER.

 

SHE LEFT ME NO EGGS. WHEN THE WILD GEESE FLEW OVER, SHE AND I BOTH LOOKED UP AT THEM. WHEN THE RED-TAILED HAWK CRIED, WE GAVE A LITTLE START. FOR REASONS BEYOND MY UNDERSTANDING, SHE SEEMED TO ENJOY MY COMPANY. FOR THE SAME REASONS, I ENJOYED HERS. SHE WAS A MESSAGE I COULD NOT READ, BUT SHE WAS SENT TO ME NONETHELESS, AND SIMPLY TO SEE HER SEEMED BLESSING ENOUGH.

 

 

NOW THE WIND HAS TAKEN HER AWAY AGAIN. AT LEAST I HOPE IT WAS THE WIND AND NOT A FOX. THE CHICKENS AND I ARE BACK TO OUR DAILY ROUTINE, WHICH IS PLEASANT ENOUGH. STILL, I CANNOT WALK DOWN TO THE GARDEN WITHOUT HOPING TO BE STARTLED BY THAT DESCENDING COMMOTION OF BEATING WINGS AND LOOSE FEATHERS, SETTLING INTO SOMETHING LIKE A DOVE WITH A MESSAGE FOR ME.

 

 

SHE CAME ONCE, SO I KNOW SHE CAN COME AGAIN.

 

 

I KEEP A HANDFUL OF CRACKED CORN IN MY POCKET, JUST IN CASE.”

 

 

HE CAME ONCE.

 

 

THEY PUT HIM ON A CROSS.

 

 

WE THOUGHT IT WAS OVER.

 

 

BUT IT WASN’T OVER.

 

 

EASTER BEGAN EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND AS THE MORNING LIGHT OVERTOOK THE SKY AND NIGHT GAVE WAY TO DAY, SOMETHING HAD CHANGED; FOR THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB; FOR THE DISCIPLES WHO HAD RUN AWAY; AND FOR US.

 

 

IT WASN’T OVER.

 

NOT EVEN CLOSE.

 

 

IN FACT, IT WAS JUST BEGINNING.

If you have thoughts on the sermon write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your ideas click on the “comments” box below.

Holy Week Worship

 

Thursday     7pm  “Song of the Shadows” cantata by Joseph Martin  (Adult Choir and Communion)

Friday           7pm “What’s Good About Tonight?”  Joel Kershaw

Sunday   6am “He Has Risen for Early Risers”  Charles Schuster

               8, 9:30, 11   “For Crying Out Loud”  Charles Schuster

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

 

Charles 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter Sunday is the most important Sunday in the life of the church. We have added services and rearranged our schedule to give us the time and momentuum to carry through the theme of Easter.

The schuedule for Easter Sunday:

   6am SunRise Contemporary Service     Theme   “Easter is for Early Risers”  Our Praise Band, Fish, will be leading us in a service that will be interactive and lively. We are hoping to start having Alternative Worship services at 12:30 one Sunday a month beginning in May. This service will be an example of that kind of worship.

   8am  In the Sanctuary. Theme “For Crying Out Loud” What does Easter mean to us and what emotions does it evoke. They were there tears on Easter when they realized Christ had Risen?

   9:30 and 11 am Theme; “For Crying Out Loud”

I have enjoyed listening to the other preachers on our staff but I am looking forward to preaching all of  the Easter sermons this year. This is the first time I’ve been able to do that and I appreciate the opportunity.

What does Easter mean to us and why is it so important? What happened to Jessu after the crucifixion and how does that inform our faith today? If Easter is central to our faith does that mean we have to believe it, all of us, the same way? What are the various interpretations of resurrection? How can we best prepare ourselves for Easter?

Holy Week Schedule

Maundy Thursday 7pm

The Adult Choir, Ray Miller, and Communion

Cantata “Song of the Shadows” by Joseph Martin

Good Friday 7pm

Joel Kershaw preaching

Sermon Title: “What’s Good About Tonight?”

If you have thoughts about the meaning of Easter or about Holy Week write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. if you are willing to allow others to read your thoughts click on the “comments” box below. I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Charles Schuster