Rocks and Loosening: thinking about Matthew 16:13-20

 

 I'll admit it. I am an adult who plays PokemonGo. I was out walking the neighborhood playing Pokemon a couple weekends ago and found myself playing a second game - see what else I could "catch" by intentionally observing the spaces I was moving through. I hadn't made it more than a few blocks when I spotted this rock. Just hanging out with some weeds under some hedges, near the sidewalk. I don't know the rock's personal history or its goals. I do know that I experienced a mental frameshift, a lifting of spirit because of our encounter. Spotting the rock "loosed" in me a will to wonder. I felt lighter that weekend. I spotted many other treasures on that walk, I think because the rock helped loosen the rigidity of worry, the weight of responsibility that I easily and willingly carry with me. 

This week as I encounter this scripture, I am thinking how I might invite my congregation, and myself, to loosen ourselves from rigidity and worry so we are willing to receive the strength we find in wonder - whether a literal or metaphorical rock. 

In Whatever Forms They Present Themselves

In Whatever Forms They Present Themselves

Matthew 3:13-17, Baptism of Jesus

This post adapted from a sermon preached by the author at Saint Paul UMC Omaha, January 11/12, 2020. 

When I was young, my parents were in an accident. An outcome was that one of them has utilized a wheelchair for mobility for close to 50 years. I remember family outings as a child in those pre-ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) days. More times than I would want to count we were denied entrance to restaurants, hotels, churches, or public meeting spaces because one of us was physically unable to enter. I loathed stairs and narrow doorways. I thought things would get better with the passage of the ADA in the early 90s, and in some places we did see great improvement. Yet, close to thirty years after its passage, I'll still encounter a business owner or manager who will shake their head, look down at us and say, "Ohhhhhhh. Sorry. We are grandfathered in." Just as bad is the restaurant where someone has piled up all the highchairs in what was an ADA-compliant hallway until it became a storage space because "we didn't know anyone would need the door to open all the way." 

This January, the United Methodist congregation I serve is one of a group in Omaha that is focusing on our baptismal vows, focusing specifically on our promise to "resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves." These words are found in the baptismal liturgy printed in our hymnals, and speak to our commitment as disciples to not just agree to be members of a church but to remember God's claim on our lives. 

In the third chapter of Matthew, we hear these words, "this is my son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." I think it is noteworthy that these words are spoken at the time of Jesus' baptism, at the very beginning of his ministry - before the healings and miracles and teachings. When we remember our baptism, we remember that we, too, are named and claimed as God's beloved children, just as we are. And part of that claim is our future ministry of resisting evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. 

I've been reflecting that our task might not be just about the resistance to the evil, but recognizing that at various times in our lives, different ones of us have the privilege of not being aware of the many forms of evil, injustice and oppression that present themselves. In my case, because I've observed the unwelcome of people with different physical abilities, I'm more aware of those forms of oppression. But it took a friend sharing with me about the time her own daughter was pulled over in their driveway because the police officer assumed she had stolen her own car for me to figure out why some people might not always want to ask the police for help. I had the luxury of not experiencing racism directed at my own child; I had the privilege of not seeing unequal treatment in our community. 

I think we as Christians are better equipped to resist evil, injustice and oppression when we widen our sense of neighborhood; when we decide to learn about people's lives who have different experiences than our own. I think we are best equipped for being open to learning when we start from God's claim on our lives and those who we encounter - as God's beloved children; people who are not perfect but know themselves to be on a journey together. 

I want to return to the story where I began, because I learned something new last week that I found horrifying and around which I have resolved to make a change. I was remembering how bad it felt to have people use the phrase "grandfathered in," and decided I would take a moment to find the beginning point of the phrase that evoked such an emotional response in me. 

It turns out that this phrase, which I myself have used (incorrectly) to mean something like "a short undefined implementation period" has its genesis in the late 19th century in the United States. It's a Jim Crow phrase. It originated after the Voting Rights act when Southern communities added their own laws that were designed to prevent former slaves from voting; things like poll taxes and literacy tests. Not all white former voters were able to pass those tests, so they were "grandfathered in," meaning that the new restrictive laws that were layered over the Voting Rights act did not apply to white men, only to former slaves. 

I am still angry that I have participated in evil, injustice and oppression via my own ignorance by using a phrase that was born of a will to harm people. But I also know that we are a people claimed for a new future. And I am resolved to not only banish this phrase from my own usage, but to learn more about additional phrases, songs, and other rhetorical forms that are carryovers from this era. When I discover I am part of a group working on an implementation phase, I will ask for a specific timeline for change, what accommodations can be made to be a bridge between the now and the desired future (I understand that elevators are not installed overnight), and if I am in a big ol United Methodist church meeting and hear the phrase "grandfathered," I have already warned my congregation that I will be the person who raises her hand and demands that we instead refer to an implementation phase with specific conditions and accountability. 

Named and claimed - is who we already are. Resisting evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms the present themselves - I think this is the call to us as the named and claimed, in this season and all those seasons to come. I give thanks for the journey. 

SA 

Sabbath Artist

Related links: 

Why I wrote the Americans With Disabilities Act, Washington Post: Why I wrote the ADA

2013 NPR story on history of "Grandfather Clause" NPR Grandfather Clause

Epiphany #resistharm Worship Suggestions

Epiphany #resistharm worship suggestions

A person could ask, “why are you worrying about Epiphany resistance worship on Christmas Eve? Have you not known that January 1^st occurs on the first of January all year? And that Epiphany is always the 12^th Day of Christmas?" Rather than asking the question, a person could quietly proceed with doing their best and give thanks that Jesus continues to show up, on Christmas and every day.

What follows are very basic liturgy helps for those planning worship services around the themes of Epiphany and resisting the harm of the Traditional Plan - from one of your friends in the Great Plains Conference of the UMC.

Thinking about our gathered group

I am predicting that at our Omaha location our worshipping group will have quite a diversity of experience when it comes to advocacy and resistance in the UMC. Because the former Nebraska Conference endured two church trials twenty years ago, some of our folks will come with a great deal of resistance experience. Others who gather with us might be feeling very new, and perhaps will be unsure what to expect. Because of our location, we will likely be welcoming people from both the most populated areas of the state and some of our smaller towns; we may also find worshippers joining us from bordering states outside of our jurisdiction. For these reasons, at the Omaha site we hope to create a very simple flow of worship that mimics the order of worship one might find in a Sunday morning service. 

Theme

We are working from both the theme of resistance that is found in the baptismal vows, and the powerful Epiphany story of the wise ones who choose to travel home by another way.

Story-telling

This is still evolving at our sites, but I think worship participants will hear from at least one person who will help interpret the story of the wise ones choosing to travel home another way and at least one person sharing a personal story of hearing God’s call inviting them to journey towards a new way of understanding God’s will for an understanding of a diverse and inclusive embrace of all of God’s people.

Baptismal Vows

The Congregational Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant found in the UMHymnal on pages 50-53 offers strong words of resistance, especially in the first two sections.

Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness,

reject the evil powers of this world,

and repent of your sin?

Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you

to resist evil, injustice and oppression

in whatever forms they present themselves?

An advantage of using this covenant from the hymnal is that draws attention to this tool of resistance. Hymnals are still fairly accessible to church members and therefore available for study by small groups and personal study. In particular, laity who feel isolated might be relieved to be reminded of this resource.

Liturgies/prayers other people wrote

I have not yet written “my own” prayers for the #resistharm Epiphany service. If and when I do, I’ll add them to this post. If someone I know writes something and gives me their permission, I will add their words.

For now, some suggestions of existing resources:

Ruth Duck, Bread for the Journey, Epiphany selections beginning on page 26

Ruth Duck, Flames of the Spirit, Epiphany selections beginning on page 25

Tirabassi and Tirabassi, Before the Amen, Epiphany section is Chapter 3

You are probably thinking, “Steph, are you just grabbing liturgy books off your shelves and reading the table of contents?” And I’m responding, “Yes. Yes I am. Our theme is universal, Epiphany prayers are universal, and we are called for such a time as this. So the story-tellers we recruit will help bring this all together.”

Other resources

In case you are trapped in a blizzard with your UMW library, I recommend The Call: Living Sacramentally, Walking Justly (McClain, Norberg, and Kruh, editors; many authors).

I strongly suggest downloading Songs for the Holy Other: Hymns Affirming the LGBTQIA2S+ Community from the Hymn Society. 

Link is here: https://thehymnsociety.org/resources/songs-for-the-holy-other/

This section may have other resources added after Christmas Eve crunch and aftermath have ended.  

Other rituals

Both Great Plains services will include the ritual of hospitality. I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but baked goods might be involved. I can not guarantee the gluten levels involved. We plan to have greeters at our outside doors, because a good number of worshippers might not have visited our worship spaces prior to these services. One location is fully equipped for slides, while the other site is more purposefully ancient modern; we will do our best to anticipate the needs of those attending so they can follow along with the order of worship.

Epiphany #resistharm Letter-writing Station tips

Hosting an Epiphany Letter-writing station in support on the #resistharm movement 

Why a letter-writing station? Writing a letter is one way to practice being an advocate, which is a form of resistance. While event planners may have significant experience with advocacy and resistance, it is likely that a number of people joining us for worship will be new to advocacy. Writing a letter is a familiar rhetorical form that allows for personal expression but also eases the stress some might feel in an in-person encounter or public speech. Be sure to remind people that writing a letter “counts,” their words and feelings matter, and we are thankful they have taken the time to express themselves.

In the Great Plains, we have asked people to write our Bishop to ask him to assist us in the quest to #resistharm. The Topeka worship service has a goal of gathering letters and delivering them after the service to the Conference office, which is also located in Topeka. The Omaha location for the Epiphany #resistharm worship service will gather letters and mail them to the office on the following Monday. Different writers will have different interpretations of what it means to resist harm; our goal is to help them express their thoughts and feelings in written form. 

Hot tips for letter-writing stations: Set up tables with chairs. Have ready in good quantity: pens and pencils that actually write; notecards and/or paper with envelopes; a list of possible general points to help writers focus their thoughts; post the name and address of who you are writing - no one likes a blank envelope - and a basket or box in which completed missives can be placed.

Even hotter tip: I'll be suggesting that all authors write their name legibly above or below their signature, list their home church, make sure retired pastors list that fact and throw in one or two of the towns they served; and include their mailing or email address just in case the recipient wants to write back. 

A bit more related to expression-inclusivity: If you've got a scrap-booker in your life, you might see if they have a decorative rubber stamp of a "stamp" or other appropriate envelope decor. I am guessing 24% of attendees would be more enthusiastic about writing a note if they knew there would be some color/design work involved. For a similar reason, a person might want to include some pieces of plain paper and crayons or markers in case participants who don't yet write, like to doodle, or need extra space would like to express themselves with personal artwork. 

The following excerpt from the Great Plains UMCNext newsletter gives some background on the context and suggested content for letters written in our Conference; we would strongly suggest planners in other locations consider their own context when inviting letters. 

On Monday November 11, Bishop Saenz issued a letter to the Great Plains conference regarding LGBTQ ordination, same-gender weddings, and the implementation of the Traditional Plan beginning January 1. He wrote about the process of charges, complaints, and trials to provide clarity and information. He does see the process of complaints and charges as divisive, having adverse impacts, and drawing us away from the mission. Even so, he writes that he is bound by the discipline and will “respond to all complaints that are submitted” according to the church processes he vowed to follow in his consecration.

We respect his episcopal authority. We empathize with the difficulty of guiding and pastoring the entirety of the Great Plains, the whole divided, beautiful, painful, transformative, and tense bunch of us. We also disagree with his decision to process complaints submitted around LGBTQ ordination and same-gender weddings. He asks all sides to have patience. He asks for folks to prayerfully consider before filing any charges and for folks to “wait with hope until after General Conference to celebrate same-gender marriages.” In twenty years, 5 months may feel like nothing. But we know it won’t really be 5 months. Most GC 2020 legislation submitted involves another called GC in the following years. Which General Conference are our LGBTQ siblings supposed to wait for to get married in the church that baptized them? Which General Conference is our LGBTQ siblings called into ministry supposed to wait for to have the permission to exist authentically? To quote the Rev. Dr. King, who knew the pain of the word ‘wait,’ “we must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right.”

We ask you to write letters respectfully disagreeing with Bishop Saenz’s decision. We believe the least harmful path and most fruitful use of time is not having trials and not receiving complaints centered on same-sex weddings and the sexual orientation of clergy. We have included a sample letter and writing guide for your use. While making the ask, the most important thing you can do in this letter is tell your story. Give the Bishop your voice to hold in his heart and mind. We know he cares deeply about the Great Plains, and we want the Bishop to hear your stories.

Mermaid Sunday

It began last summer with a question about unicorns and has continued into 2019 with Mermaid Sunday.

The request came mid-summer of 2018, and was not as off the wall as one might think, given that the summer schedule already included a Unicorn Sunday and Superhero Sunday. Perhaps it was the warmth of the season, but I found myself distressed – what if someone thought it was a good idea to show up in church wearing a coconut shell bra? I called a friend that had already been briefed on my Summer Road Trip plan and asked – what do I do? We talked it out. I was short a themed worship service for August, a rough month for transitions in that tradition might hold that summer does not end until the sun sets on Labor Day Monday and yet our present reality is that school is back in session by the second week of the month. The idea of something aquatic was attractive, perhaps we could move from a Mermaid theme to a Beach theme? I have as many issues with loose sand as I do loose glitter, so we moved on. What about Aloha? A word that means hello and goodbye? More on that later. 

I’ll move the narrative to late fall. I was discussing winter worship themes with our music staff, and my mermaid advocate reflected that it might be nice to have a warm and fun Sunday in February. We looked at the calendar, and the 3^rd Sunday looked like a plausible option; a week after our church’s traditional Valentine luncheon, and also the Sunday before General Conference – a good time to spread some joy in the life of the congregation.

Our focus scripture, “I will teach you to fish for people,” came from the previous week’s lectionary (Luke 5:1-11). Who better than a mermaid to know what it’s like to call forth people? For hymns we chose “Jesus Calls Us,” “Two Fisherman,” and “Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore.” For kids time, I was prepared to either discuss mermaids or to hand out seashells, depending on the age of the people who decided to join me. I draped a blue length of fabric on the altar with a prop net, found a few votives that seemed reminiscent of sea glass, added a lantern to evoke the notion of a lighthouse, and piled up some royal blue tulle I bought at the church yard sale to look like waves. 

A note about content - I led with references to both the original Little Mermaid, written by Hans Christian Anderson, and Disney's 1989 movie of the same name. A wise friend pointed out to me during my preparation stage that while I, the daughter of Danish immigrant, might assume that this fairy tale might be people's primary reference point... others might be most familiar with the more recent movie which works from the original story as source material but "fixes" a number of the darker aspects. The original is easily found at your local library or online as a download; I'd encourage anyone planning a mermaid event to read the entirety of the original, perhaps with a hot beverage and snack. The part of the original I found most encouraging comes at the end, when the little mermaid finds immortality not because of the actions of her father or a prince, but because she is scooped up, named and claimed by the Spirits of the Air who assure her they have always known her and appreciate her acts of kindness. I don't want to spoil it for you; I do encourage you to read the story for yourself and ponder how the tale interacts with the Christian notion of God's call upon our lives. 

Where I wound up goes like this: we believe in a God whose nets are big enough for all of us. The fisherman who answered the call took an incredible risk; and our lives since then have included stories of others who have taken great risks. Examples of risk in our own church include managing a 100+ plot community garden, filling and delivering backpacks to the neighborhood elementary school, hosting 50+ children at our kids day out and preschool, and planning goofy theme Sundays that entice visitors to come see what will happen next. In the midst of the struggle, we believe that God is with us and that we are called to reach out to one another in community - so that together we might share the faith stores that have saving power and remember God's call and claim on our lives. 

SA

Sabbath Artist 

ps We had a grand time at our "mermaid party" between services. Stations included creating sugary edible clams and oysters; paper mermaid tails; clothespin magnet mermaid clips; and rubber stamped bookmarks and notecards. Sunday School attendance set a winter record in spite of cold and snow; 31 adults and kids joined us for the craft stations and mermaid treats. 

Sometimes the bag of tulle is really a bag of someone's costume and you try it on. 

"after photo" - altar for Mermaid Sunday.