Ever heard of Moses Maimonides? He was a medieval Jewish philosopher who thought a lot about tzedakah, which means "righteous giving." We think of giving as something that is always good, but he developed a ladder of giving. Maimonides realized that some forms of giving -- like giving out of obligation -- are not as virtuous as others.
On Maimonides' Ladder, the highest rung of giving is this: "One who assists a poor person by providing him with a gift or a loan or by accepting him into a business partnership or by helping him find employment -- in a word, by putting him in a situation where he can dispense with other people's aid."
Several centuries later, many of us seem to be getting Maimonides' message. (It was Jesus' message too, by the way.)
President Obama this week signed a new policy directive on Global Development, which changes the way the U.S. will provide foreign aid to developing nations. Instead of simply handing out assistance to many different countries, the focus will be on developing sustainable capacity in fewer nations where greater impact is possible. This initiative is supported by our mission partner Bread for the World.
Closer to home, our OPRF Food Pantry is changing its delivery method. I attended a training today to introduce "Client Choice." The hundreds of people who visit our pantry each month will now be able to shop for what they want, rather than being handed a sack of pre-selected groceries. A nutritionist will be present to offer recipes and cooking advice so that pantry items can be prepared with more nutritional value. This empowers our neighbors, as we work in partnership with them.
And our Faith in Action committee is exploring the possibility of providing microloans to clients of the Walk-In Ministry, to enable them to purchase equipment or training so that they can get a job and no longer need assistance. Yesterday we hosted a clergy workshop at First United, and we reflected on ways to serve those who are impoverished. Every pastor described their frustration in finding effective methods of responding to people's needs, without deepening their dependency.
Sometimes it all comes together. We yearn for a day when other nations will not need U.S. aid, but will flourish by their own strength. We long for a day when we will no longer need a food pantry in our community. We hope for a day when 10 percent unemployment will be a distant memory. We work for a day when hunger will not be a daily reality for 41 million Americans.
Thanks, Maimonides. We're ready to climb the ladder, together, with faith.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
I'm a Believer
We started this thing last summer called Prayer Partners. The idea came from another UCC church (thanks, guys!). About a hundred people signed up one Sunday morning to get matched with someone else, making the promise that they would touch base once a week and (gasp!) pray for the other person. I've gotta tell you, I'm a believer in this Prayer Partner deal. No meetings, minutes, no maintenance, no money involved . . . just a simple thing called prayer. And what a difference it's made.
So far, I've heard these stories:
* A husband who was looking for work for months found a full-time job.
* A church member who was experiencing a painful mis-communication with another church member found the problem resolved itself within 24 hours of her partner's prayer.
* A teenager who was really struggling with depression decided to pursue treatment.
* A woman whose husband has been in hospice care for several months found support that enabled her to say goodbye to him.
* A newcomer to our community and our congregation found strength through a prayer partner, since she still hasn't developed a good support system in the Chicago area. She was able to ask for prayers for health concerns and family issues.
Bill McKibben writes about the importance of deep relationships in his book Deep Economy. "Americans have a surplus of individualism and a deficit of companionship. Having connections with others is much better than having more money." Prayer Partners are good news for those of us living through a financial recession.
Oh yeah, I'm a believer.
So far, I've heard these stories:
* A husband who was looking for work for months found a full-time job.
* A church member who was experiencing a painful mis-communication with another church member found the problem resolved itself within 24 hours of her partner's prayer.
* A teenager who was really struggling with depression decided to pursue treatment.
* A woman whose husband has been in hospice care for several months found support that enabled her to say goodbye to him.
* A newcomer to our community and our congregation found strength through a prayer partner, since she still hasn't developed a good support system in the Chicago area. She was able to ask for prayers for health concerns and family issues.
Bill McKibben writes about the importance of deep relationships in his book Deep Economy. "Americans have a surplus of individualism and a deficit of companionship. Having connections with others is much better than having more money." Prayer Partners are good news for those of us living through a financial recession.
Oh yeah, I'm a believer.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Treasure in Our Hearts
One of the joys of ministry is the privilege of welcoming new babies into the world. It is an experience of pure hopefulness to hold an infant in your arms and to gaze at their newly forming features. Every baby is perfect. They seem to hold limitless potential.
In the same way, I find it a deep privilege to be with people who are dying. This week I was honored to sit at the bedside of Eugene Kearley, who has been a member of this church for decades. He and his wife Clara were married here, after meeting on one of Gene’s many medical mission trips to Central and South America. Their daughter Carina was baptized here, confirmed here, taught Church School for three years, and married here in 2007. Gene has been in hospice care for more than a year, and his life on earth came to an end last night. It was beautiful.
We listened to hymns, we prayed, we shared stories and words from Scripture, we offered comfort to Gene, we blessed him and we let him go into the arms of God.
One story Carina told was especially touching. When she was in college, her father sent her a postcard almost every day. Many were vintage postcards from Europe which he had collected during his years in the Navy. He took these precious collectibles and mailed them off to Carina to let her know that he treasured her, that he was thinking of her, that he wanted her to feel his love – even from a distance. The postcards were tangible evidence of his commitment and care for her.
He treasured Carina in his heart, as Dr. Rodger Nishioka called us to do in his sermon last Sunday. Carina has preserved those postcards and framed them in glass, as a testimony to his treasuring her.
I notice my daughter in college keeps the postcards I send her each week, a tangible reminder of my love for her. Every two weeks I send a letter to my nephew Stephen, who is serving in the Army in Afghanistan, as a symbol that I treasure him in my heart each day.
It seems being born and dying feel much the same. In the time of birth, we struggle, we feel pain and we are completely powerless. But after the intensity of these moments comes a sense of peace, completion and union with God. So it is with death, which Jesus tells us is another form of birth. For whether we live or whether we die, we belong to Christ, who is Lord of the dead and the living.
May we treasure all these things in our hearts. (Luke 2:51) May we let people know they are treasured.
In the same way, I find it a deep privilege to be with people who are dying. This week I was honored to sit at the bedside of Eugene Kearley, who has been a member of this church for decades. He and his wife Clara were married here, after meeting on one of Gene’s many medical mission trips to Central and South America. Their daughter Carina was baptized here, confirmed here, taught Church School for three years, and married here in 2007. Gene has been in hospice care for more than a year, and his life on earth came to an end last night. It was beautiful.
We listened to hymns, we prayed, we shared stories and words from Scripture, we offered comfort to Gene, we blessed him and we let him go into the arms of God.
One story Carina told was especially touching. When she was in college, her father sent her a postcard almost every day. Many were vintage postcards from Europe which he had collected during his years in the Navy. He took these precious collectibles and mailed them off to Carina to let her know that he treasured her, that he was thinking of her, that he wanted her to feel his love – even from a distance. The postcards were tangible evidence of his commitment and care for her.
He treasured Carina in his heart, as Dr. Rodger Nishioka called us to do in his sermon last Sunday. Carina has preserved those postcards and framed them in glass, as a testimony to his treasuring her.
I notice my daughter in college keeps the postcards I send her each week, a tangible reminder of my love for her. Every two weeks I send a letter to my nephew Stephen, who is serving in the Army in Afghanistan, as a symbol that I treasure him in my heart each day.
It seems being born and dying feel much the same. In the time of birth, we struggle, we feel pain and we are completely powerless. But after the intensity of these moments comes a sense of peace, completion and union with God. So it is with death, which Jesus tells us is another form of birth. For whether we live or whether we die, we belong to Christ, who is Lord of the dead and the living.
May we treasure all these things in our hearts. (Luke 2:51) May we let people know they are treasured.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Unashamed Faith
In God's vision for First United Church, one line proclaims: "Your unashamed faith in me will burn like a shining beacon, attracting people of every age, race, creed and spiritual condition to create a community of life-changing worship and reconciliation."
Today -- Sept. 11, 2010 -- is a day when it is hard to feel unashamed of our Christian faith. It only takes a few extremists to damage the reputation of the world's great faith traditions.
Christian pastor Terry Jones' hostile threats to burn a Quran in Florida today have caused moral and political outrage around the world. The violent actions of a small group of Muslim terrorists nine years ago have caused many people to label all who follow Islam as dangerous. Today a guest to our church told me that she feels Ground Zero is a sacred site, where the memory of our dead should be hallowed, and so building an Islamic cultural center nearby is wrong and should be stopped.
One temptation for all of us is to lose faith in our faith traditions, and to refuse to be identified with the "wackos" who use religion as a motive for hatred, bigotry, violence and destruction.
But today of all days, we need to be unashamed of our faith, which in fact leads to the path of nonviolent love and reconciliation. One of the risks we take as Christians is the risk of being associated with sinners. Jesus said:
Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:38)
Once again, Jesus knew exactly what to say. While we feel angered and ashamed by the actions of a few extremists who have twisted religious teachings into a motive for violent acts, there is no reason to be ashamed of the Messiah we follow, and the Word he brings.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14:27)
Today -- Sept. 11, 2010 -- is a day when it is hard to feel unashamed of our Christian faith. It only takes a few extremists to damage the reputation of the world's great faith traditions.
Christian pastor Terry Jones' hostile threats to burn a Quran in Florida today have caused moral and political outrage around the world. The violent actions of a small group of Muslim terrorists nine years ago have caused many people to label all who follow Islam as dangerous. Today a guest to our church told me that she feels Ground Zero is a sacred site, where the memory of our dead should be hallowed, and so building an Islamic cultural center nearby is wrong and should be stopped.
One temptation for all of us is to lose faith in our faith traditions, and to refuse to be identified with the "wackos" who use religion as a motive for hatred, bigotry, violence and destruction.
But today of all days, we need to be unashamed of our faith, which in fact leads to the path of nonviolent love and reconciliation. One of the risks we take as Christians is the risk of being associated with sinners. Jesus said:
Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:38)
Once again, Jesus knew exactly what to say. While we feel angered and ashamed by the actions of a few extremists who have twisted religious teachings into a motive for violent acts, there is no reason to be ashamed of the Messiah we follow, and the Word he brings.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14:27)
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
God Knows Your Job Gets Old
My sermon last Sunday touched on the theology of work. Work is meant to be a blessing, not a curse. But God knows, there are times when we find our work is nothing but a burden. Whether our work is parenting, caregiving, volunteering, working at home, or working outside the home, most of us at times feel drained.
So here are some additional suggestions for inviting God's spirit into your work.
* Develop a personal mission statement. Having a focus for why you do what you do helps you to stay on track when problems arise. An example: "To live as a disciple of Christ and bring hope and healing to others." When I worked as a chaplain, I led workshops for staff members to develop their individual mission statements.
* Talk about your spirituality. If you came to an important decision as a result of prayer, tell someone. Share a thought from a sermon or a devotional reading that made an impression on you. Offer to pray for someone, and then follow up. Ask people what makes them feel spiritually alive -- feeding the birds, reading a poem, riding a bike, cooking a great meal, laughing with friends, singing out loud?
* See a spiritual director. I see my spiritual director once a month, no matter what is happening in my life. A spiritual director is someone who is trained to listen and pray with people, like a counselor for your spiritual life. They don't ask you about childhood experiences, but more about how you see God at work in the events of your life. To find a spiritual director, visit www.sdi.org.
* Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Whenever I visit a church member in a hospital or nursing home, I am reminded of how much I take my health for granted. When I visit my Uncle Bob, who has been a paraplegic for more than 15 years, I learn a lesson about gratitude. Though all he can do is eat and talk, he is constantly upbeat. He doesn't focus on his limits, he thinks about what he can still do.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit."
God knows your job gets old. But when we invite the Spirit to work with us, Christ makes all things new.
So here are some additional suggestions for inviting God's spirit into your work.
* Develop a personal mission statement. Having a focus for why you do what you do helps you to stay on track when problems arise. An example: "To live as a disciple of Christ and bring hope and healing to others." When I worked as a chaplain, I led workshops for staff members to develop their individual mission statements.
* Talk about your spirituality. If you came to an important decision as a result of prayer, tell someone. Share a thought from a sermon or a devotional reading that made an impression on you. Offer to pray for someone, and then follow up. Ask people what makes them feel spiritually alive -- feeding the birds, reading a poem, riding a bike, cooking a great meal, laughing with friends, singing out loud?
* See a spiritual director. I see my spiritual director once a month, no matter what is happening in my life. A spiritual director is someone who is trained to listen and pray with people, like a counselor for your spiritual life. They don't ask you about childhood experiences, but more about how you see God at work in the events of your life. To find a spiritual director, visit www.sdi.org.
* Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Whenever I visit a church member in a hospital or nursing home, I am reminded of how much I take my health for granted. When I visit my Uncle Bob, who has been a paraplegic for more than 15 years, I learn a lesson about gratitude. Though all he can do is eat and talk, he is constantly upbeat. He doesn't focus on his limits, he thinks about what he can still do.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit."
God knows your job gets old. But when we invite the Spirit to work with us, Christ makes all things new.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Lighting a Candle in the Shadow of 9/11
Days of religious observance converge next week. The Jewish Days of Awe begin with Rosh Hashanah on Sept. 9 through Yom Kippur on Sept. 18. The Muslim season of Ramadan ends with 'Id al-Fitr on Sept. 10. And Sept. 11 will be the ninth anniversary of the World Trade Center attack. While millions will join together in worship and prayer next week, an isolated few have promised to burn the Holy Quran in memory of the tragic events of 9/11.
A church member sent me this prayer from an interfaith group in Chicago intended to kindle a different kind of flame.
May a prayerful spark ignite us again to bring comfort to those who lost loved ones on that terror-filled day and in the wars that followed from it.
May we stand against the forces of distrust, hostility toward faiths other than our own, and cruelty under the guise of devotion.
May we stand with documented and undocumented immigrants, the homeless and those losing their homes, the jobless and the despairing.
May we seek healing and reconciliation at home and abroad for the cause of justice and peace.
With them, I invite you to pray on the weekend of Sept. 9-12 that the fires of hatred and violence in our nation and our world will be extinguished and that, together, we can be aflame for the cause of a truly Beloved Community.
We will witness to this Word through our adult education series this fall and through continued involvement in interfaith dialogue with members of the mosque in Villa Park. Contact Rev. Leah Fowler if you would like to join us in lighting a candle for peace.
A church member sent me this prayer from an interfaith group in Chicago intended to kindle a different kind of flame.
May a prayerful spark ignite us again to bring comfort to those who lost loved ones on that terror-filled day and in the wars that followed from it.
May we stand against the forces of distrust, hostility toward faiths other than our own, and cruelty under the guise of devotion.
May we stand with documented and undocumented immigrants, the homeless and those losing their homes, the jobless and the despairing.
May we seek healing and reconciliation at home and abroad for the cause of justice and peace.
With them, I invite you to pray on the weekend of Sept. 9-12 that the fires of hatred and violence in our nation and our world will be extinguished and that, together, we can be aflame for the cause of a truly Beloved Community.
We will witness to this Word through our adult education series this fall and through continued involvement in interfaith dialogue with members of the mosque in Villa Park. Contact Rev. Leah Fowler if you would like to join us in lighting a candle for peace.
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