Theological Friday: Reflections for the 1st Sunday in Advent

Lectionary Readings for 1st Sunday in Advent: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36.

The following is not so much a sermon as just thoughts on the first Sunday in Advent and Advent in general. This is more how I start to think about sermons, the kinds of things that run through my mind during my sermon preparations, than an actual sermon.

Advent is the time of preparing, "Preparing the way of the Lord," but not just in terms of Christ's birth - which is the surprise. We just happen to know the surprise, like knowing what's in the present under the Christmas tree. Advent is as much about the coming Kingdom of God, as it is Christ's coming (birth and 2nd coming).
We live between the times: the Now and the Not Yet. I'm influenced here by J. Paul Sampley's work on understanding Paul's theology. Christ ushered in the Kingdom of God with his birth, but the old "worldly kingdom" has yet to pass away. We then live (as Augustine would say) between the two kingdoms.
I think these readings remind us of that, especially the one from Luke foretelling the ending of the Kingdom of this world.

By the way, I'm intentionally using "Kingdom" rather than "Kin-dom." I wish there were a more gender neutral term for the political connotations of Kingdom, but I'm not so sure there is in the English language. But I do believe politics is at play.

We are invited to work for Christ's/God's Kingdom. The Kingdom is near, it is at hand. How do we participate with in it, to help bring it about here and now? At the same time, which kingdom do we serve, participate in?

I strongly believe that Jesus provides a way - although it is a very hard way to follow. There are days I'm not so sure I'm up for it.

This being the Sunday following Thanksgiving and Black Friday and Cyber Monday - do we take time to be thankful for the examples of ways to follow the gospel? Who among us are intentionally living with less that other might live with more (and thus gifting the world)? How does sustainably harvesting fish, for instance, fit into the Kingdom?

"Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as in heaven ..."

May it be so.

Blessed Be,

Joel

Sustainable Wedesday: Overfishing

The December 2012 issue of Cruising World* is a "green" edition: meaning it is full of "green" things and information about the cruising / sailing life. Included is an interview / article by Paul Greenberg of Four Fish fame. The article "Overfishing: What Sailors Should Know" (20-22) includes the following questions by Crusing World (I'm purposely only giving you the questions to perk your curiousity):

"CW: Let's start with the word overfishing. A lot of us don't really know what it is. What is overfishing?"

"CW: How do you stop overfishing?"

"CW: Then does it really matter which fish we eat?"

"CW: Does that mean that you're against farmed fish?"

"CW: Speaking of local ports, if I own a sailboat, what can I do in my home port to help fish populations?"

"CW: So we should eat a lot more farmed oysters and mussels?"

     By the way, I learned something new with Greenberg's answer. I didn't realize that "mussells actually have massive amounts of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids - nearly as much as salmon." I wonder how many mussells one has to eat, however, to compair with a serving of salmon.

"CW: Is there anything we can do differently to help the ocean?"

"CW: But is it still OK for me to throw out a line while under sail and catch fish for dinner?"

"CW: With overfishing, global warming, ocean acidification, energy and mineral mining of the ocean floor - is the ocean doomed?"

And what are Paul Greenberg's Dos and Don'ts about eating and fishing? From the side bar (21):

Dos

- Buy seafood from small-scale fishermen who use gear that does not harm the bottom and that doesn't kill untargeted species.

- Find a community-supported fishery near you. Start your CSF search with the Northwest Altantic Marine Alliance (namanet.org/csf) and Local Catch (www.localcatch.org).

- If you eat farmed fish, choose Arctic char and barramundi.

- Cooperate with shellfish farmers in coastal waters near you.

- Eat more farmed oysters and mussels.

- If you're sailing in state-regulated waters, check first with state fish-and-game authorities so you know the regulations. When in federal waters, be suer toe check the federal regulations.

- When you fish, make use of barbless and circle hooks.

Don'ts

- Don't dump raw sewage overboard. It contributes to an overabundance of nutrients, and this eoxgenated the marine enviornment.

- If you're fishing from your boat, don't use treble hooks.

- If you have a choice between a motor and a sail, sail.

Blessed Be,

Joel

___
* I thought this article and issue would be on-line, as the magazine is in the library. But apparently, it's not quite up yet. We'll have to wait for the links.

Musical Monday: Heave Away Me Johnny

For Advent, I thought I would add something on the fun side ... some sea shanties. Enjoy the music and the fun lyrics, as we remember those who have gone to sea before us.

Blessings,

Joel

Louis Killen leading

Heave Away Me Johnny
There's some that's bound for New York town
  and some that's bound for France
    Heave away me Johnny, heave away
And some that's bound for the Bengal Bay
  To teach them whales to dance
    Heave away me Johnny boy, we're all bound to go

The pilot he is awaiting for
  The turning of the tide
    Heave away me Johnny, heave away
And then me boys we'll be gone again
  With the good and westerly wind
    Heave away me Johnny boy, we're all bound to go

Farewell to you, you Kingston girls
  Farewell St Andrews dock
    Heave away me Johnny, heave away
If ever we'll return again
  We'll make your cradles rock
    Heave away me Johnny boy, we're all bound to go

Come all you hard working sailor lads
  Who round the cape of storm
    Heave away me Johnny, heave away
Be sure your boots and oilskins on
  Or you'll wish you never was born
    Heave away me Johnny boy, we're all bound to go

There's some that's bound for New York town
  and some that's bound for France
    Heave away me Johnny, heave away
And some that's bound for the Bengal Bay
  To teach them whales to dance
    Heave away me Johnny boy, we're all bound to go
(Lyrics found here)

Art and Religion

As I was listening to the radio this week, I was made aware of this story about Charlie Chaplin and Sergei Rachmaninoff and their discussion about art and religion.

I remember [Vladimir] Horowitz, the pianist... Just before the war [World War II] I dined at his house with his wife, the daughter of Toscanini. Rachmaninoff and Barbirolli were there... It was an intimate dinner, just five of us.
It seems that each time art is discussed I have a different explanation of it. Why not? That evening I said that art was an additional emotion applied to skillful technique. Someone brought the topic round to religion and I confessed I was not a believer. Rachmaninoff quickly interposed: "But how can you have art without religion?"
I was stumped for a moment. "I don't think we are talking about the same thing," I said. "My concept of religion is a belief in a dogma--that art is a feeling more than a belief."
"So is religion," he answered. After that I shut up.
     ~  Charlie Chaplin, My Autobiography, (pages 395-397)

  It got me thinking about the creative process. In this week of celebrating Thanksgiving in the United States (22 November this year) we speak a lot of gratitude, of feelings of thanksgiving. With such "a feeling more than a belief" how are you creating art with your life?

Blessed Be

Joel

A Prayer for People Who Journey as Vessels

It has been raining here for what seems like 40 days and 40 nights. And when the tide is up, it does seem as if we are floating upon the world. So, when I stumbled across this prayer in the United Methodist Book of Worship I found it all the more seemingly appropriate.

May the waters falling from heaven help to fill your wellsprings of hope and healing, of creation and prophecy, of caring and prayer.

Blessed Be,

Joel

We are a people who journey as vessels containing wellsprings of hope;
sharing, replacing, and adding new waters
     of proclamation, power, prophecy, and prayer
          to the containers of our life and faith.
We pause and reflect on the movement of the tide in theis journey,
     as it washes upon our shores,
     cleansing and calling us back to ministry and faith.

The people are invited to stand where they are and share their prayers after each invitation is given.

O Creator God, let the waters of your womb heal.

Let us pray for our global community ...
Let us pray for the bent-overness of our lives and world ...
Let us pray for those living in the midst of violence ...
Let us pray for those living in poverty ...
Let us pray for the effort of peace ...
Let us pray to trust the validity of our experience ...
Let us pray for the call within
     by the One who creates in us wellsprings of hope ...

O Creator God, may the waters that covered us at our birth 
     once again remind us of our creation in you.
Remind us that we are vessels of the waters of hope
     and that your outpourings have power to heal
          and make whole our bruised world.
Let the living waters of creation, womb, baptism, and Spirit
     encircle us that we may remember we are yours and be thankful.

** (Elizabeth Lopez Spence, USA 20th Cent. Alt., United Methodist Book of Worship, 527)

Cosmic Address & Gratitude

Do you know your/our "cosmic" address?
Fairly amazing, to think of ourselves in our proper perspective. Too often, how many of us tend to think of ourselves at the center of the universe. Yet, we can still pray with the Psalms, with awe and gratitude.

Blessed Be

Joel

               Psalm 8:3-5

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
     the moon and the stars which you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
     and mortals that you care for them?
Yet you have made them little less than God,
     and crowned them with glory and honor.

All Saints Day, 2012

Happy All Saints Day. Hope you are finding time to think about those who have impacted your life of faith. Upon reflection, do you realize that some of these "saints" may not even be from your own religious tradition? Isn't it interesting how the Spirit works.

Blessed Be

Joel

SAINT SHINRAN

When I walk my dog at night, the route on the way home takes me past a Buddhist temple with a terrace on which stands a huge statue of Saint Shinran Shunin, a Buddhist saint of the twelfth century. This particular statue was in Hiroshima when the bomb fell, and was sent to the Buddhists in New York as a symbol of forgiveness and hope. Each night as my dog and I walk by the great statue, the huge bulk of metal wearing a patina I have never seen on another statue, I say, "Good night, Saint Shinran. Forgive us, and help us." and for me, at this moment, Saint Shinran is one of God's angels. Am I worshiping a pagan saint? A life-less hunk of metal? No! It is an attitude of heart, a part of turning to Christ.
     I rejoice to read in William Johnston's The Inner Eye of Love that Saint Shinran rebelled against legalism and proclaimed "the pre-eminence of faith and grace," and that "he has been frequently compared to Luther."

Madeleine L'Engle. Glimpses of Grace: Daily Thoughts and Reflections. Ed Carole F. Chase. HarperSanFrancisco, 1996. 290.

An All Saints Day Service: All Saints/All Souls, 2011