Birthday joys for Kathy Gillam (June 8)

For graduates: Eileen Conover’s son Brian graduating summa cum laude from Delta College; Charlotte Jackson for granddaughter, Alexis, graduating with honors from Fresno State; Jane Chin for Granddaughter, Sabrina, graduating from Brown; for Elizabeth Ramirez completing here high school degree in Redwood City; and for Daniel Ramirez, soon to graduate from Los Altos High

Melanie Ramirez for Daniel on his graduation and for winning first prize in the student film competition, Los Altos High School; for teachers and students on summer break

Lynn Hunwick with gratitude for everyone who helped to make Marilyn’s memorial service special; for antidotes in Baptist literature to so much toxic news these days

Pastor Gregory remembering a tour of Palo Alto that the Hunwicks provided when he first arrived; for the celebration of Gay Pride month, remembering the pioneers and s/heroes

For Kathy and Dick Gillam as they travel in Europe

For Chuck and Nancy Syverson for healing for Chuck

Sunday, June 4, 2017

Text: Acts 2:6-21 (The Message)

With the crackle of flame and a whoosh of wind Pentecost is ushered in in this fantastic and familiar tale. It’s an important story that cycles around every year as we celebrate the “birthday of the church.” There are many angles a preacher could take in addressing this ancient word, but the thing that stuck out for me as we considered this text on Tuesday at Bible study is Peter’s role. In particular, I was caught by the text recording that Peter “raised his voice” (NRSV) or as The Message puts it, “spoke out with bold urgency.”

On the surface, it’s not a particularly remarkable thing. Surely someone addressing a large crowd, especially without the aid of amplification, would raise his voice or speak out boldly. The text tells us that, with the coming of the Spirit in wind and flame, all disciples are stirred up to speak out boldly. Not only do they speak out, but they are enabled to speak in such a way that people from a number of different language groups understand them. It’s something of a miracle, isn’t it? After all, these disciples are mostly Galilean peasants, poor, uneducated, unlikely to speak any language other than their own.

So, it’s a sort of circus, a kind of crazy block party, as the disciples pour out of the quarters where they have remained locked away since Jesus’ death. This week Carnaval was celebrated in San Francisco’s Mission District. It’s the largest multicultural festival held on the West Coast. Did you see and hear, either in person or on the news, the different cultures, brilliant costumes, and colorful languages represented as people took to the streets in celebration? I know Pentecost did not unfold exactly like Carnaval, but it gives you some sense of the rich diversity that gathered on the streets of Jerusalem that first Pentecost morning.

The writer of Luke says the crowd was baffled by the behavior of the disciples. He reports that “When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, ‘Aren’t these all Galileans? How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?’”

We’ve played on Pentecost in the past with the variety of languages that might be spoken in our own congregation, including English, Spanish, French, Creole, Japanese, Cantonese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Hindi, Orilla, and Lebanese. Imagine how it would be in our little group if people started speaking in all of these languages at once and everyone somehow understood what was being said. It would be strange, exciting, confusing, a minor miracle. Or what if I stood up to preach and each of you understood in the non-English language with which you are familiar? Crazy, huh?

Well, whatever happened that day, the writer of Luke says the crowd cried out “They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!” At the very least, the crowd understood the words they heard and some of them understood the Word that was behind those words. In the end, the writer reports that more than 3000 people joined the church or “their number” that day. It was the sort of evangelistic meeting that Billy Graham would envy, a mighty revival of sorts!

And speaking of evangelistic preachers, the preacher that day was none other than Peter. But before we crown Peter the chief spokesperson for emerging church for speaking out boldly on this day, let’s do a little background check. From the various gospel accounts, what do we know about Peter before this day? In my mind he was impulsive, inconsistent, an ignorant Galilean fisherman. I picture him as large, dominant, loud, opinionated, slightly boorish. One minute he has brilliant insight into the nature of Jesus’ calling and the next he is trying to stall Christ’s mission. He thinks he can walk on water until he discovers he can’t. He is a rock that is susceptible to crumbling at the most inopportune time.

In fact, in Luke’s gospel, the last time Peter is mentioned before Pentecost morning is on the night they arrested Jesus. We find him huddled in the courtyard outside the high priest’s house. Remember, earlier in the evening, when they we were all gathered around the table for the last supper, it was Peter who boldly proclaimed, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” (Luke 22:33). A form of bold speech, to be sure, but listen to Peter’s prologue to Pentecost:

When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, ‘This man also was with him.’ But he denied it, saying, ‘Woman, I do not know him.’ A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, ‘You also are one of them.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I am not!’ Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, ‘Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know what you are talking about!’ At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. Christ turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered Jesus’ word, how he had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly (Luke 22:55-62).

The camera pans out on a weeping Peter, bowed down in shame, devastated by his own words of betrayal.

So, you see, for Peter to speak out boldly on Pentecost something has to have happened in his life, something that radically transforms him, for, indeed, from this day forward it is reported that he was a strong witness for the Jesus Way, capable of performing his own signs and wonders in Jesus’ name. When the Spirit comes and lights upon you, chances are that you will be changed in ways you never imagined. For Peter, there is apparently forgiveness, redemption, and empowerment in Pentecost; he is never the same again. A Galilean fisherman becomes the Rock on which the church is founded. If it can happen to him, why not you and me?

You see, speaking out boldly is not reserved for heroic figures from long ago, for the canonized saints of the church, for folk with special spiritual gifts, it is a way of life for those who claim to follow Jesus. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying everyone who loves Jesus needs to get on a soapbox on the nearest street corner and win souls for Christ. But I am reminded again of that old Baptist hymn that affirms:

My life flows on in endless song;
above earth’s lamentation,
I catch the sweet, though far-off hymn
that hails a new creation.

No storm can shake my inmost calm
while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
how can I keep from singing?

Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

And, no, that does not mean I expect any really committed Christian to join the choir (though we would be happy to have you.)

Another lectionary text for today is from the twelfth chapter of First Corinthians in which Paul proclaims:

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

As the choir sang last week, there are “many gifts, one Spirit.” The challenge for each of us, as Christ followers, is to find our gifts and to use them, empowered by the Spirit, to bring about God’s Beloved Community. Each of us is encouraged to be “speaking out boldly,” in their own way, the truth of the gospel as we have come to know it. The great German theologian, Jurgen Moltmann, has written, “The sending of the Holy Spirit is the revelation of God’s indestructible affirmation of life and [God’s] marvelous joy in life. Where Jesus is, there is life. That is what the Synoptic Gospels tell us. Where Jesus is, sick people are healed, sad people are comforted, marginalized people are accepted, and the demons of death are driven out. Where the Holy Spirit is present there is life” (Jurgen Moltmann. The Source of Life, p. 19).

To the degree that you believe this is so – that God affirms and finds joy in all life, including yours and mine, and that “where Jesus is, there is life,” in the richest, fullest sense of the word, I invite you to take the strip of paper that was given you and write out what you might say (or do) in speaking out boldly in the Spirit of Pentecost. Take that truth claim with you. Pray about it. Invite the Spirit to move you to action. Be the church as best you can, be the Body of Christ, dream dreams, see visions, prophesy, if it comes to that. And remembering, now and then, that old affirmation of faith, sing to yourself, “Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?” Amen.

Thursday, June 1, 7:30 PM: Choir Rehearsal in the Parlor

Looking ahead:

• Sunday, June 11: Youth Sunday. Our children and youth will lead us in Worship and we will honor graduates. If someone close to you, family member or friend, is graduating, please let us know.
• Sunday, June 11, 11:15 AM: Patio Hour. Everyone is invited to gather on the Patio after Worship for refreshments and community time. A sign-up sheet for hosting this summer event is posted in the Church Entryway.
• Monday, June 12, 7:00 PM: Church Council, in the Parlor.

This Sunday is Pentecost, so everyone is encouraged to wear red (or orange or yellow) as your own personal “tongue of flame.” The texts for the day focus on the ways in which the Holy Spirit, represents all the wonderful life-giving gifts of God to God’s people. We control neither the Giver nor the gifts, but we can always express our gratitude and make the most of that with which we have been blessed. Come to celebrate the “birthday of the church.” Stay for the first Patio Hour of the season and join in the Lunch Bunch as we enjoy Indian cuisine. Bring along someone with whom to share the events of the day.

Remember, our theme for this year is “All Are Welcome in this Place.” Let’s make certain that it is so.

Pastor Rick   

• Midweek Message, May 31, 2017

• Birthday joys for Ann Hillier (June 4), Ray Hing and Dona Smith-Powers (June 5), and
• Kathy Gillam (June 8)
• Paul Berry celebrating the 104^th birthday of Barbara, his friend and former boss in Haiti
• Elizabeth Ramirez for her mother, Magdalena who will celebrate a birthday this week
• For graduates: Eileen Conover’s son Brian graduating summa cum laude from Delta College; Charlotte Jackson for granddaughter, Alexis, graduating with honors from Fresno State; Jane Chin for granddaughter, Sabrina, graduating from Brown; for Elizabeth Ramirez completing her high school degree in Redwood City; and for Daniel Ramirez, soon to graduate from Los Altos High
• Chip Clark for the good trip that he and Charlie made to Texas and Iowa
• For Kathy and Dick Gillam as they travel in Europe
• For Sean Cevera as he continues to heal after heart surgery
• Lois Ville for Lucille Towner whose sister, Shirley, died recently of Parkinson’s in Atlanta
• For Chuck and Nancy Syverson for healing for Chuck
• Pastor Gregory for a world in turmoil

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Text: Acts 1:6-11 (The Message); John 17:1-11 (NRSV)

“Well, dear Theophilus, God-lovers all, the story continues…” writes Luke at the very beginning of the book of The Acts of the Apostles. His aim is to show how Jesus lives on in the life of the church through the empowerment and direction of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the one who fills Christ’s followers with courage and strength.  The text tells us that life in the Holy Spirit is not only promised to the disciples in the days to come, the Spirit is actually the One through whom they have received instructions from Jesus.  The Spirit has already been active in their lives indirectly; now they are promised direct experience of that same Spirit.

Much of Christian tradition has made a claim for the Resurrection as the culmination of Jesus’ life and ministry, but a case can be made for the Ascension.  John, in particular, argues this. “…now I am no longer in the world…I am coming to you… glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed,” Jesus prays to God. John wants us to understand that Jesus’ journey is, most importantly, from there to here and back. But, just as important is the message that this journey is also ours. We come from God; we return to God; and always and forever it is in God that we live and move and have our being. This is crucial to what Jesus was trying to show those first followers – and us – in the Incarnation.

Haddon Wilmer writes that “the incarnation of God in Jesus is not to be regarded merely as a single secluded event, a special privileging of one man over against all others, but rather as the pivotal revelation, realized in one person, of the relation God intends and seeks to have with all humanity, through flesh and blood, in historic community” (Haddon Wilmer, quoted in Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild, Resources for Preaching and Worship: Year A, p. 154). In the movement of Jesus Christ from there to here and back again, we see God luring all creation to the fulfillment of life in God’s steadfast love for what God has made. “…now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”

Although the Resurrection is surely a most spectacular event in the Jesus’ story, his life goes on, as Luke shows us in Acts.  The good news for those left standing on that Judean hillside is that Jesus not only comes from God, he returns to God.  This is the big picture, the true scope of movement for followers of the Way – we come from God, we return to God.  The challenge, in the meantime, is to keep our lives centered on God, rooted and grounded in God, allowing God to be the one in whom we “live and move and have our being,” here and now, on this earth. The return will happen in God’s time, according to God’s plan. We can trust that it will happen because we’ve seen it happen for Jesus; we don’t need to worry about when and where.

In contrast to the end of the Luke’s gospel, the Ascension story comes, in Acts, only after Jesus has had an extra forty days with the disciples, “speaking about the kingdom of God.” You can imagine that these followers, who have already demonstrated difficulty in understanding Jesus’ purpose among them, can use all the help they can get if their movement is to have any future at all.  You may also imagine that the turmoil in Jerusalem, along with the turmoil in their own lives, from the events of Passover week has not entirely subsided. Though they are elated to have Jesus with them, they are still cautiously hiding out in locked rooms, bags packed for the return trip to the relative quiet and safety of Galilee.  They want to go home; at the same time, they don’t want to let go of Jesus.

The challenges of the Jesus Way continue for them. Jesus instructs them to remain in Jerusalem even though he is planning to leave them physically.  He has promised them the gift of the Spirit, if they can just hold on a little longer.  Their innate curiosity kicks in, though their question shows how much more they have to learn.  “…is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?”  They continue to show short-sightedness, they can’t yet envision the big picture.  “Your vision is too small.  You’re not ready for nor do you need to know the details of how God is operating here.  You need to get yourselves ready for the coming of the Spirit, that will be the next leg of your journey on the Way.  It is enough for now.  It is all you can handle.”

They are to be Christ’s witnesses, beginning where they are, spreading the good news to the “ends of the earth.”  Before they can ask a follow-up question, in front of their very eyes, he ascends into the clouds and disappears from sight.  Again, we can imagine that they were dumb-founded, left standing on that hillside, their necks craning to see beyond the clouds, their mouths hanging open. Then, more miracles – angelic voices bring them back to reality: “You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left.”

From God, to God, yes, but in this coming and going the membrane between heaven and earth is eternally altered.  There is now the promise of coming and going in new and exciting movement along the Way. The beginnings of a thoroughfare have been outlined and Jesus has been the first to travel it.  The promise is that many more will travel it in the days ahead because these same awkward, gaping disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit will show the Way.

Among other things, this text underlines how God works through the simplest of folk – peasants and outcasts, thick-skulled and fearful folk – to change the world.  These disciples are given responsibility for Jesus’ radically revolutionary movement to turn the world right side up.  They may seem an unlikely group on the surface, caught up in conventional concern for the restoration of the literal Davidic kingdom in Israel, not able to see beyond their concrete desires for their own welfare, but Jesus stays with them long enough to be able to pass them off to the Spirit who will continue the work Jesus has begun in and among them.  They are about to find voices that will indeed speak truth to power and spread good news to the very ends of the earth.

The challenge for us modern disciples is to do likewise.  When and where do we find ourselves standing, “looking up toward heaven,” hoping that Jesus or someone will do it for us?  How are we hamstrung by our inability to see beyond the conventional into the miraculous promises that are still given to us today as followers of the Jesus Way?  What would it take for us, as individuals and as a community of faith, to travel this thoroughfare that leads from God to God?

Those first disciples must have shared with one another their anxieties and fears, their hopes and dreams, their wonder and anticipation as they retraced their steps to Jerusalem that first Ascension Day. Jesus gathered them as a community, taught them as a community, and left from the midst of their little community. The Spirit was promised to them in community. Of course, individuals can and do have experiences of the Spirit, but Jesus makes it clear that it is the Spirit, working in the community, that will spread the good news around the world and bring in the reign of God.  That reality has not changed in two millennia, it still takes a community of faith, Spirit-filled, to spread the good news and bring in the reign of God.  That is our challenge and our commission as the Body of Christ, followers of the Jesus Way.

Thursday, May 25, 11:30 AM: Women’s Brunch, Shoreline Lake American Bistro, 3160 North Shoreline Boulevard, Mountain View, CA. Please let Lois Ville know if you will be attending, [email protected] or (408) 247-1764. All women of the church are welcome.

Looking ahead:

• Sunday, June 4: Pentecost Sunday
  10:00 AM, Worship for the whole Family with Communion: Pentecost, Numbers 11:24-30; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; John 7:37-39; 20:19-23; Acts 2:1-21; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, Rick Mixon. Remember to wear red (or orange or yellow or some combination to represent the “tongues of fire” associated with Pentecost.)

  11:15 AM: Patio Hour Everyone is invited to gather on the Patio after Worship for refreshments and community time. A sign-up sheet for hosting this summer event is posted in the Church Entryway.

This Sunday is known as Ascension Sunday in liturgical tradition. On the Sunday before Pentecost, we remember that the Christ ascended into heaven as recorded in Acts or returned to God as he predicted in John’s gospel. After the Ascension, when Christ was no longer plainly visible to his followers, the Holy Spirit descended on them, imbuing them with great power to carry on Christ’s mission in the world. In the Ascension story in Acts 1, the angels ask the dazed disciples why they’re standing there looking into heaven when there is work to be done on earth. This is a fair question to ask every follower who may be more focused on what is to come than what is needed now to usher in God’s Beloved Community.

In Adult Spiritual Formation, we will wrap up our study of the Parables with a look at “The Parable of the Talents.” Please join us for worship, education, and community time and bring someone along to share the day. At 2:00 PM, we will hold a memorial service for our beloved Marilyn Hunwick, which will be followed by a reception hosted by the family. If church members are wanting to help with the reception, please contact the church office.

Remember, our theme for this year is “All Are Welcome in this Place.”

Let’s make certain that it is so.
Pastor Rick   

• Midweek Message, May 24, 2017