Have a Blessed Memorial Day!

Homecoming 2008

May 18th, 2008 saw the return of Rev. T.C. West of LaGrange, whose very first appointment was here at Zion in 1957, when our church was part of a 3-Point Charge with Seven Springs UMC and Indian Springs UMC. Rev. West pastored here from 1957 to 1959 while still an undergraduate, and shared some of his experiences with the church in his sermon. His primary text was from The Epistle to the Romans, Chapter 5, verses 11-17:

"11...we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13 for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ."

There were 121 people in attendance for Homecoming...

Relay for Life 2008

Friday, May 16th, 2008 - around 4 p.m. - was the kick-off; the Zion Marchers of Zion UMC were active participants for this year's Wayne County Relay for Life event in Goldsboro. Many of our church members spent the night. The entire event collected over $600,000 for the American Cancer Society, and our church was honored with the title of "Best Camp" among all represented Churches! We also won First Place in the Jack-O-Melon Contest! Once again, a good time was had by all. Click on the pictures in the slideshow to the left of the screen, and they'll become larger - there's also a clip of the fireworks show's finale from Friday evening. The entire event wrapped up on Saturday afternoon...

Link to a clip of Kim Davis crossing the finish line in Second Place in one of the Night Races! And another link to a clip of some of us waiting for the race to start; it's silent for some reason...

Mother's Day 2008

The night before Mother's Day, our United Methodist Men hosted their annual "Ladies Night" event, where they provided childcare, and cooked the ladies of the church a fine steak dinner, preceded by salad and ending with dessert; there was also wonderful musical entertainment, and a fine time was had by all. Our Worship Service the next morning paid tribute to the wonderful Christian mothers in our church community, and also acknowledged that it was Pentecost Sunday, with an emphasis on the second chapter of the Book of Acts, and special attention paid to the presence of Mary, the mother of Jesus, throughout his ministry, and on the Day of Pentecost...note the slide show from Ladies Night to the left of the screen. Click on pictures to enlarge them...

Sermon Notes: 5/4/2008

Ascension Sunday

The Biblical accounts of the ascension Jesus are unique to Luke, and are found in the opening chapter of The Book of Acts in his address to "Theophilus," and in the closing verses of his gospel, The Gospel of Luke.

Luke 24:51 merely reads, “51 While [Jesus] was blessing [the disciples], he left them, and was taken up into heaven.”

Acts 1:9-11 offers up a more detailed description: " 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” Verse 10 and 11 read, “10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

A similar cloud was present at the event on what is known in the gospels as the Mount of Transfiguration, referred to in Mark 9:7: "Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: 'This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!' "

When Jesus was present with his disciples, he was their teacher and a role-model, but in his physical absence, it is understood that it is to be the people who are to be the teachers, the role-models and the difference-makers. When Jesus was present, his followers were relatively passive, but in his physical absence his followers are to be active. This was a message for Luke and his readers in the first century and it is a message for us in the 21st century. Fixing our eyes on the sky, as the disciples did in Acts 1:10 is passive, but being about the business of the Kingdom on a regular and daily basis is active.

Just like in his gospel, Luke notes in the Book of Acts that he is writing to Theophilus. Theologians and scholars are somewhat divided on this, because they know that Theophilus translates into "lover of God." They aren’t sure if it’s a reference to a person named Theophilus, or if it’s written to any person who is a lover of God, which would mean that it was written for people of every generation that are lovers of God, including you and me.

In Acts 1:3, there is what we will call this morning a forty days reference: “3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days, and spoke about the kingdom of God.”

Just as Lent is a forty day period before Easter, the time between Easter and the Ascension in Luke is forty days. This morning, we're celebrating Ascension Sunday, but it’s more appropriately a Thursday event, according to the calendar. At any rate, there are a variety of numbers in the bible that have symbolic significance. For example, 7 was a sacred number among the Hebrews. The 7th day, or Sabbath, was connected with creation. There are dozens of references to 7 in the ritual and festive life of the Hebrews throughout the Old Testament. It also occurs frequently in the writings of the prophets, and in the book of Revelation. The number 12 is also held in special regard. Twelve had significance due to the 12 divisions of the lunar year into months, and was used for organizational purposes in a variety of ways including dividing Israel into 12 tribes, and Jesus choosing 12 disciples.

Likewise, forty is understood throughout the bible to be a time of testing and preparation during which God fully instructs people for their future work. Moses was up on Mount Sinai for forty days as he waited for the Ten Commandments. The Children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years until they were enabled and allowed to enter the Promised Land. In I Kings 19:7-13, the prophet Elijah spends forty days on Mount Horeb in preparation for hearing "God's voice." In Luke 4:1-13, the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days before he begins his public ministry.

One minister noted that, in Acts, forty days seems to be a code that refers to an extended period of preparation and examination of the followers of Jesus for the difficult time ahead. However, in verse 6, someone asks, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" And the question was basically asking, "Jesus, will you make our dreams come true?" They thought that the re-establishment of Israel's political and military might would enable the world, at least their world, to be filled with peace, prosperity and justice. It is kind of like a lottery mentality. I am ready to receive wealth and I am ready to spend the wealth but I don't really want to do more than pick some numbers or scratch a card to develop the wealth.

In our biblical passage, those asking the question were saying in essence, "Jesus, we are ready to receive the kingdom and we are ready to enjoy it, but we really don't want to do anything more than follow you around with "ooh's and ah's" in bringing the kingdom about." Their question revealed their passive posture.

The answer from Jesus moves their focus from being passive to being active. He says, in essence, "Don't worry about such details but think about what you can do that will bring about a transformation from 'what is' to what 'can be.'" This can be an internal transformation or an external transformation. But the external probably won't change until the internal has changed. This is why the Christian message always starts with personal dynamics like repentance and forgiveness and then moves on to larger issues like peace and justice. Jesus seems to be saying that I will not give you the "kingdom" immediately, but if you change your hearts; work at changing your world, then you will help usher in the "kingdom." Jesus moves them from a passive stance to an active orientation. He notes that the Holy Spirit available to him will be available to them as well.

And, of course, we’re reminded in Ephesians 4:7-13 of the gifts he graced humanity with when he ascended: "7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train, and gave gifts to humanity." 9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

He gave us the keys to the kingdom. Have we put them in the lock, and turned them yet? We have the tools and the ability; are we letting them gather dust and rust? He gave us our gifts and graces for a reason. Are we being passive with them, or active?

Moving from a passive position in life to an active one can surprise and confuse those around us, initially. We see this in the Pentecost story in the 2nd chapter of Acts. A change in our approach to our faith will eventually bring positive change to the world around us, but usually not before others are first a bit shocked and confused.

The Ascension verses are about change that might initially shock those around us. As noted at the onset of this message, the Ascension narratives are not focusing on what happened to Jesus as much as they were helping the early church understand what it is to be doing in the absence of the physical presence of Jesus. The verses are descriptive of the disciples emerging from their shock and grief over the death of Jesus. When Jesus was present his followers were relatively passive, but in his physical absence his followers are to be active. This was a message for Luke and his readers in the first century and it is a message for us in the 21st century. Fixing our eyes on the sky, as the disciples did in Acts 1:10 is passive, but the Lord doesn't want us to be so heavenly-minded that we're no earthly good! He wants us to be active in our faith...

Sermon Notes from 4/27/08...

Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

The psalmist who wrote this was, in all likelihood, David - the shepherd turned King, who was known in the Scriptures as a Man After God's Own Heart. This psalm is intense, and personal, and it's one of the more popular and most-beloved passages of Scripture. It is a staple at most funerals, but it is often recited during a time of crisis.

If we were to do an analysis of the psalm, we would see that it is somewhat triune in nature, in the same way that God is triune. And just as God exists, always has existed, and always will exist, the psalm deals with the past, the present, and the future.

The first three verses of the psalm deal with the present - the here-and-now - and describe how God's provision is being made for the psalmist even as he writes the psalm.

The fourth and fifth verses of the psalm can be understood to be descriptive of what the Children of Israel underwent when in bondage in Egypt, and it's understood that - if such possibilities arise again - God's presence will again be made manifest.

The sixth verse looks toward the future, with the understanding that - one day - the Psalmist, like the rest of the Saints of God, will reside in God's household for Eternity.

The Psalmist uses language that indicates intimate knowledge of the Divine. In the first two verses, God is referred to in third person language, and is described as "my shepherd," and "the Lord."

Shepherds in the Holy Land were responsible for the sheep on a full-time basis; they knew each sheep by name, knew their basic personalities, and knew where they tended to wander off to. Shepherds - GOOD Shepherds - also guarded their flocks by night, and served as a living 'gate' in the fenced-in are where the sheep rested, fending off enemies who might approach under cover of darkness.

The Psalmist also describes the shepherd's rod and staff, which were instruments of defense, correction and, sometimes, discipline (used to keep straying sheep in line, or to pull them in to safety) - and this offers us an image of God as our protector, our defender, and our teacher.

In the fifth verse God in second-person language, and the Psalmist addresses Him as "You," which is most intimate; the Psalmist also depicts God as a host as well as a shepherd, and it was understood in those times that a host not only provided rest and comfort to guests, but food, shelter, clothing, and also protection from enemies.

The psalm glorifies God and offers up praise for His provision - for things He has done in the past, in the here-and-now, and in advance for all He will do for us in the future...