Year 2002 Contributions:
Date: 26 Aug 2002
Time: 11:04:27
Could this be the 9-11 passage to use...Tenth Month is definately marked for us!!! Pastor mary in Ohio
Date: 04 Sep 2002
Time: 07:24:49
One of the tragedies of 9/11 is that religion led these men to do what they did. For them, the killing was an act of devotion, blessed by God. This passage looks different in light of 9/11. What about the families in Egypt whose eldest was slain? Must God kill others so my faith can be affirmed. It would seem Jesus' gave another option for disagreements. Negotiation, not violence. jpfrom bg
Date: 06 Sep 2002
Time: 10:20:05
Did anyone else notice that the direction is to eat the meal with the nearest neighbor, not your best friend. What does that say about our need to share relations with all of our global neighbors, not just allies? This certainly sounds like a call to inclusiveness to me. Ogremtb in PA
Date: 06 Sep 2002
Time: 10:37:50
Bravo to Ogremtb and jpfrombg! There is a need here for inclusiveness. The passage from Exodus is the inauguration of the Passover meal. One of the features of the Seder is to drip wine [one drip for each plague]. It is a sign at there is no animosity toward Egypt and there is mourning for the loss of the first born children.
Keep the struggle for peace going! That is the answer to the question: WHY IS THIS NIGHT DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER NIGHTS?
Oklahoma Irishman
Date: 06 Sep 2002
Time: 14:31:15
I am going to use the theme of eating on the run. The Passover was a "fast food" diet to be eaten quickly. We are a "fast food" nation. What does our craving for "fast food" signify? Preacher in Ks.
Date: 07 Sep 2002
Time: 12:49:32
I found a connection with the commemoration of the Passover event and the first anniversery of 9/11. God chose to save the Nation of Israel during the plagues and disasters and will do so during our current plagues. God is always around, it is just up to us to notice and be gratful. CR
Year 1999 Contributions:
I find myself wondering about the whole Paschal cycle as a Passover event. Is it equal to, analogous, or something else all together.
Here on Maui, the first resident rabbi has arrived to minister to the Jewish community. The celebration of the Seder this year should be especially meaningful.
Marvin in Maui
I am a very keen student of the Old testament and one of the best studies I have ever made is on Ex.12.3. It has all the beauty of the old testament and new testament teaching on salvation, and the other related topics. If anyone wanted to study this area it is an excellent idea to study it along with the Festivals of Israel in Lev.23. It will be an unbeleivable revelation. I had taken a series of Bible Studies on the Festivals of Israel and if one has to start the study he has to come to Ex.12 where the first festival Passover and the Unleavened Bread is explained.
God bless
I am a very keen student of the Old testament and one of the best studies I have ever made is on Ex.12.3. It has all the beauty of the old testament and new testament teaching on salvation, and the other related topics. If anyone wanted to study this area it is an excellent idea to study it along with the Festivals of Israel in Lev.23. It will be an unbeleivable revelation. I had taken a series of Bible Studies on the Festivals of Israel and if one has to start the study he has to come to Ex.12 where the first festival Passover and the Unleavened Bread is explained.
God bless
K.M.David Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Passover, among other things, is a celebration of Liberty and liberation. It is also a covenant celebration in which we acknowledge that God is the author of our liberty. We know ourselves to be people who are meant to be free because our creator is the author of liberty. This story helps us to know who we are and the quality of freedom our lives are meant to have. Manzel
08/30/99 08:17:00
The blood shall be a sign for you who shall be saved. This passage, familiar to us who preach and to those who regularly attend passover services or Holy week services, yet not easily rendered as a message which we need to hear in the "almost 21st century". The symbolism is clear--the rememberance of which holds power to the people of God. The life saving plan of God for the Hebrew people was truly a means of freedom from bondage and toward new life.
It is not difficult to adopt this passage as a Christian, and see its power through the post-resurrection eyes of the Christian experience. WE all are in bondage to sin and the Blood of Christ-shed for us brings us new life--new freedom. Through the blood of the Cross, God has provided a way to restore the weary, transform the weak and give sight to the blind. We have a covenantal link to our Hebrew friends, and we too celebrate and remember--as we break the bread and drink from the cup--we share in the promise, the truth of new life.
I want to preach on this passage this Sunday, and am just tossing out some thought to build on--comments are invited--thanks. Peace--DF in KS
I'm going to preach on this passage, too. Although we don't talk much about the blood these days -- especially in the Methodist church -- (alas, it is STILL scandalous!) I'm preaching on "The Incredible, Wonder-Working Power of the Blood." I love the symbolism in this passage and K.M. David D., I would love to have some of your insight. Care to share more in detail? RevKK
To RevKK, Brave soul! If you are able, sheck out the current issue of "Homiletics." you'll find an interesting treatment that refers to "cord blood." RevMom
To RevKK, Brave soul! If you are able, sheck out the current issue of "Homiletics." you'll find an interesting treatment that refers to "cord blood." RevMom
I'm going to preach on this passage, too. It looks like a challenge. I will be following this discussion closely. Thanks for all the ideas you can offer. VA in NY
Last Sunday we heard God saying "Take off your sandals." Today, "Eat with your sandals on!" We've heard the call - now it is time for action. Since I made a big deal of taking the sandels off last Sunday, I'm looking for inspiration for this bookend of "Eat with your sandals on." any stories? (My stories from last week got lost in the server switch, sorry.)
For those of you wanting to pursue the blood theme, Jeff Smith in "The Frugal Gourmet Cooks with Wine," New York: William Morrow and company, Inc, 1986, pp. 75-76 has a wonderful discussion about the blood of the lamb. We are celebrating communion this week so it works - I used it Maundy Thursday one year, but so few come out for that service, it bears repeating....Since someone may ask for it, here is the quote from Jeff Smith: He talks about wine in the ancient Hebrew tradition as a symbol of friendship, a sign of commitment, and then as a symbol of adoption. This is where the blood of the lamb comes in. I quote, "The image of adoption was connected with the image of blood,...In the old shepherding communities, all would have understood this image because all knew the problem of the shepherd. He would check his flock in the morning and find a new lamb...but the mother had died during the night. In another portion of his flock he would find a mother, sitting silently beside her child stillborn during the night. The mother would die of a broken heart and the orphan would die from lack of sustenance. All logic would tell you to put the orphan under the care of the childless mother...but the two would know they were foreign, and they would not accept each other. The moment of wisdom came when the old shepherd, this old Jewish philospher and theologian, would see in this even the nature of our relationship to the Godhead. We are so separated from God, he said, that God is dying of a broken heart and we are dying from lack of sustenance. And it seems that nothing can be done. We are foreigners to one another. But one thing can be done. It is still being done by shepherds. If you slit the throat and drain the blood of the dead baby and wash the orphan in the blood of the lamb, the living mama smells her own and moves around so that the orphan can suckle, can come home to the table." I am also doing a baptism this Sunday so this really works as baptism is the sacrament through which we all become the adopted children of God.
Caroline in Ct
Something happened to the comment I made yesterday -- so I will try again!
I am planning to preach on "The Amazing Power of the Blood" -- simply because we United Methodists don't seem to preach on that much anymore. We left those "bloody" songs out of our hymnal and seem rather ashamed of the whole concept, as primitive, not within the realm of "contemporary" understanding. So, I am interested in the comments of any of you for further understanding ...such as the fellow who said he was a student of the OT. I plan to begin my sermon by talking about the aspects of blood in the physical body, then moving to the religious/spiritual symbolism. Any helpful insights out there? --- RevKK
Oooops. Pardon the heck out of me. Now that I call this up the third time, I see that my previous comments DID make it, and some of you have already responded. Thank you. Yes, Rev. Mom, I did see the Homiletics piece...I like his stuff, but I fear it is a little TOO contemporary, too graphic, for my elderly congregation. ---- RevKK
Rev.KK, I understand. I'm not sure I would use it as is with my congregation either. I love what Caroline from Ct. added to this discussion. Sheep my folks understand, being a rural community! Another "real" life aspect of the "blood" theme comes from something I remember from childhood. When we cut ourselves or scraped our knees, we were encouraged to let it bleed a bit before bandaging. That would "clean" it out and help it heal. Just rambling. I share your dilemma with this text. And I too want to use it to continue the Moses saga. Am grateful for everyone's input! RevMom
Rev.KK, I understand. I'm not sure I would use it as is with my congregation either. I love what Caroline from Ct. added to this discussion. Sheep my folks understand, being a rural community! Another "real" life aspect of the "blood" theme comes from something I remember from childhood. When we cut ourselves or scraped our knees, we were encouraged to let it bleed a bit before bandaging. That would "clean" it out and help it heal. Just rambling. I share your dilemma with this text. And I too want to use it to continue the Moses saga. Am grateful for everyone's input! RevMom
Rev. KK, et. al.: Consider that "ruach" is translated "life," "spirit," and "blood," as well as others. There were several types of sacrifice in the O.T. Human sacrifice was practiced, but generally thought to be discontinued after the near sacrifice of Isaac. There were animal sacrifices (also into the N.T.) but these were discouraged by some of the prophets (Amos, and others) who told the Hebrew people that what God really wanted was not animals, but the sacrifice of a pure or righteous life - thus the "bloodless" sacrifice. There is no other religion (of which I am aware) where we have a "divine" sacrifice - i.e.: God sacrifices God's self on a cross. All of this is prelude to what happens in that sacrifice. Blood is released. The idea is not that the animal or the Savior is killed. The idea is that the animal's or Savior's blood is released, and the life (Spirit) was believed to be resident in the blood. It was the life (blood) that was offered to God sacrificially. Thus when we participate in Communion, we receive the body and blood of our Savior, and the life is still in that blood. Capice? -- Jim in Raleigh
Having now read "Homiletics" "Cord Blood" sermon, I want to come back online to share personally - maybe this will give another angle for those of you with "skemish" congregations...you know best... My husband and I attend a cancer support group because he has multiple myeloma - a maglinancy of the plasma in the bone marrow - currently incurable. At one meeting a couple who was expecting a baby discussed the cord blood collection idea. The dad had cancer - can't remember what kind, but I think it did have genetic ramifications. Do they spend the extra money (granted not available to the poor) to conserve stem cells that could later save this child's life? In gentle ways, several of us who were well versed in stem cells issues encouraged them. Did they do it, I don't think so. So be it. If in 1944 when my husband was born, if the procedure had been available and had his parents taken advantage of it - he could now have the closest thing to a cure available presently with his disease. It would be the equivalent of having an identical twin...a stem cell transplant where the cancer patient's stem cells are destroyed by high dose chemotherapy and then new uncontaminated stem cells - one's own from cord blood or from an identical twin - would give new life - maybe not forever, but longer than any other kind of transplant. OK, theologically - Sweet's discussion of Cross Blood is good. In the above story - Christ becomes our identical twin - but with uncontamined blood - life saving blood - blood that gives us a second chance. Our parents may not have saved our cord blood, but our heavenly Parent did - once and for all on the cross - when we partake of the cup we participate in those life giving stem cells. (Caution: I had a child in a congregation who could not swallow "the blood" so for children I always say "cup of salvation." not "this is the blood.")
If this helps, use it with my blessing!
Caroline from Ct
Caroline, Thank you for sharing this story and for the permission to use it. It makes Sweet's work much clearer. I will re-read it with a new perspective. RevMom
I think that it is so hard to preach with a rational annalytical perspective on the issue of the blood, because it is such a primordial, gut level issue. We know ar some basic level, that we are worthy of death, and it takes death to save us. We know that something dies to give us life, our food, even if we are vegetarians. As a father, I have attended the births of my children, and it was a surprise how much blood was there. So the symbol, blood, evokes both a certain sadness, and a certain thankfulness: this blood was shed for me. Jesus's blood was shed for my, by God. Just my thoughts at this point. RevByron in Tennessee.
Anyone with this angle Exodus reading is on being prepared: put on sandals, gird up loins, and get staff in hand
Romans (latter part) deals with being prepared: "arise from sleep (hypnosis)"
And in Sacrement of Lord's Supper we anticipate the coming "supper" when we drink of the vine in the kingdom.
Mark in Va.
As one of United Methodist that is not a "Blood" person I still like this scripture. The scripture which was written, much later in the promised land is about remembering that God is our Salvation. It uses symbols to help us remember that God Saves. I don't believe that blood saves, God saves. The Passover is a time to remember the saving acts of God. We use symbols to help us remember. This being the First Sunday of the month we will celebrate with the Holy Communion. Another symbol of God's Saving Grace. To me this is time that calls us to examine the symbols we use to remember God's Saving Grace. The Sermon title is "Symbols of Salvation". What are the symbols of salvation for you? What do you congregation see as symbols of Salvation? Are they all "religious" symbols? For me there are symbols, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., that are symbols of salvation. I am sure that as we move into a new time, we will need old symbols to help us remember and new symbols that have meanin in a new worls. I believe that we are called as leaders to help our congregations see the symbols and remember. For it is the remembering that is important, not the act, nor the symbol. We must remember that God Saves. From the earlest of days until the end of time, God offers to us Salvation slavery and oppression in this life and forever. REVJCB in NE.
Eat and Run! Get ready to be refugees. Not so much from an oppressor. Not so much from the bad but into the good new future that God is beckoning you into. The entire Hebrew people were called into the wildernes. Called. Not abandon after the big liberation event. Called, supported and nurtured along their way. Any yet they were refugees from all that they had know. Don't want to get into suggesting that all refugees are called by God to move along. But these were and God is calling us into a future that may make us refugees from materialism, from the perverse cultural celebration consumerism that happens at Christmas.... Anything here work for you? st in StJoe
Thank you, st in St. Joe! I like your thoughts on God calling people out...I am thinking of all the ways we are enslaved, not just by materialism, but also by our low estimate of what we, as God's people, are truly capable of; enslaved by our limited sense of our God-given gifts which we are meant to share with others. I especially like how you say God calls us, and then does not abandon us to an unknown future, but guides and nurtures us along the way. In this way, we we are called into greater freedom and wholeness. That, to me, is also what happens when we partake of Communion--Christ calling us into a deeper Oneness with him, a full participation in his Life and his Mission. And then we begin to call others out to share the journey with us. Rev. Patty in New York
I have imagined Jesus at his last sedar before the cross. Sedar meaning order was re-ordered that night my Jesus. Instead of washing of hands we wash feet in John's gospel. It appears Jesus does not eat or drink anything as he awaits the kingdom. He is the lamb of God awaiting the death angel to pass over and salvation to be made real. Jesus is the maror the bitter herb. Jesus will do the bloody and drudgery work of our salvation. Jesus will be the matzah The bread of life. It appears to me that Jesus did much of the sedar and then after the meal He offered a new way for the future.Thus he fulfills the sedar in becoming the freedom sacrifice for our future. halleluyah we are free at last. A toast to all. L'Chayim (to life) just a country preacher.
st in St.Joe, Glad you finally made it on-line. Please e-mail me with your address, and big congrats on that ordination! sd in Edinburgh
Does anyone remember the context of the Title of "Silence of the Lamb?" I don't want to rent the movie. I remember that the Heroine heard the Lamb's crying, and Dr Lechter kept refering to her experience. This would help me in that my concentration is on the Lamb and that sacrifice. The "frugal Gourmet" reference was good, for where I see my message is being shaped, but I need something else.
Thanks
Shalom
Pasthersyl
st in St. Joe, SORRY! It's "Dingwoman1@aol.com"
Clarice Stirling tried to free the lambs from being slaughtered on her uncle's ranch, just after her own father died when she was a little girl. She tried to run away with one and save just one, but she was too tired and couldn't. [I'm so pathetic! And thanks alot, now I'll probably dream of a nice Chianti and fava beans :)]
Thanks!
Shalom
Pasthersyl
09/03/99 10:05:00
Thanks REVJCB in NEB, for your comments and reference to "Symbols of Salvation" I think you are right on target. Excellent way to approach this communion Sunday and deal with all the "blood" which we United Methodists seem to disdain somewhat.
I must admit that my early upbringing in the small country church had plenty of those hymns in its weekly service. Blood is the symbol of salvation and it is God who provides salvation for us by water and the blood. My thoughts are certainly not yet wrapped around a sermon, but there are some anchors beginning to form.
Again, thanks for your contributions. DF in KS
Today is Saturday afternoon, sorry to be so late with this, but have been out of town until last night. My dad had a blood infection several years ago. He was imune to any antibodics they could give him and could not cure him' but with 78 pints of blood they washed his system out, and he lived another 20 years. Blood can clean us of all the impurties we have in our system. It was not his own but the blood of another that saved him. It was not our own but the blood of another that saved both the ancient Hebrews and that saved us. This I think is the theme I will go with we can be cleansed by the blood of another.
Pastor Belle MR in NY
Thanks for everyone's comments, they got the juices flowing. Thanks especially to Rev Patty in Ny. I, too, was thinking of the things beyond materialism that enslave us. It seems to me with the strenghth and the number the Hebrews had, they did not need God to free them from Pharoah. But they had no mindset other than slavery, and they had no glimpse of what live was like outside of slavery. It seems to me that many folks in our society are enslaved, but are unable to imagine a life of freedom, therefore they do nothing to see the freedom that they do not know they need. Mosses played the role of prophet, calling the people out of their identity as slave to a new vision for child of God. Just some rambling thoughts. JR in Big D
Date: 19 Apr 2000
Time: 09:06:45
Is nobody preaching on this text for Holy Thursday? I think the passover theme is definitely under-developed in Holy Week. I am not using this text either this year, but think I will explore it for next year. St. Paul says that we are grafted into the chosen people of Israel like a branch into the olive tree. So, shouldn't we remember and celebrate the exodus as part of Holy Thursday? SF in MA
Date: 19 Apr 2000
Time: 10:41:00
I found this quotation (at "previous discussion" above) to be very meaningful. maybe this text can be related to Holy Thursday after all:
"I have imagined Jesus at his last sedar before the cross. Sedar meaning order was re-ordered that night my Jesus. Instead of washing of hands we wash feet in John's gospel. It appears Jesus does not eat or drink anything as he awaits the kingdom. He is the lamb of God awaiting the death angel to pass over and salvation to be made real. Jesus is the maror the bitter herb. Jesus will do the bloody and drudgery work of our salvation. Jesus will be the matzah The bread of life. It appears to me that Jesus did much of the sedar and then after the meal He offered a new way for the future.Thus he fulfills the sedar in becoming the freedom sacrifice for our future. halleluyah we are free at last. A toast to all. L'Chayim (to life) just a country preacher."