tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post8843691922618349736..comments2023-11-03T05:46:44.728-04:00Comments on RevGalBlogPals: Tuesday Lectionary Leanings- What about Joseph?Stephanie Anthony/She Revhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10089531643725874239noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-61072067354747529072007-12-20T21:24:00.000-05:002007-12-20T21:24:00.000-05:00I've been turning to this site for a while . . . b...I've been turning to this site for a while . . . but haven't commented before. What a gift to find a gathering of women preachers!<BR/><BR/>My admiration for Joseph this year has grown so deep. What faith and courage to actually act on that voice of God! What if we all managed to believe so deeply that when God nudged us, whispered to us in the night, moved our hearts . . . and usually with something that was somehow 'outside the box' . . . what if we all had the courage to act on it? What might be born into our world today?<BR/><BR/>Christmas Eve - I was so moved this year as I set up our multitudinous creches in this household. Each one visualizing God as "one of us". I have one from Africa, one from Bethlehem, one of Eskimos, another with teepee Native Americans from the plains. And, of course, the old family one in which Mary and Jesus are both actually strawberry blonds! "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among US" God as us. <BR/><BR/>Still needs lots of work . . . but that's where I'm headed.Susan Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03644556943275276846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-77647227716488075752007-12-20T16:50:00.000-05:002007-12-20T16:50:00.000-05:00I too am fascinated by the dream imagery. Dreams a...I too am fascinated by the dream imagery. Dreams are a common way God communicates in Scripture; yet the reason of the Enlightenment has stripped away common belief that this is a way God speaks. I know of a Pastor in Wisconsin, John Sumwalt, who collects and publishes stories of people dreams and visions. He estimates 30% of folks have had such an experience. Most never have told anyone else, for fear they will be considered crazy. Wouldn't it be awesome to have community of faith that believes God voices comes in dreams and visions?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05717810311212306871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-44918355601491850332007-12-20T12:15:00.000-05:002007-12-20T12:15:00.000-05:00Hubbie has themorning service Sunday, Father-in-la...Hubbie has themorning service Sunday, Father-in-law is preaching on Joseph Sunday Evening. So that leaves me with Christmas Eve. They don't normally have a sermon, but to heck with tradition! I'm preaching the traditional text, but I'm going to talk about the possiblity that Mary and Joseph were not alone in the stable. Josephs family would have had to be registered as well so they all would have made the trip to Bethlehem just as they all trecked to Jerusalem when Jesus was a boy. The main idea being that God didn't come just to two lonley souls with strangers for company, but that he arrived in a community. A family with women to help with the birth and men to hold Joseph upright. This birth was not isolated and alone, but happened within a community. Christ does not just come to each of us, but comes to the community as a whole,to bring us all together united as the family of God.<BR/>At least that's what I'm thinking righ tnow.rev h-dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14844912508550923363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-66659214667060278812007-12-20T10:39:00.000-05:002007-12-20T10:39:00.000-05:00That was beautiful!I have a hard time identifying ...That was beautiful!<BR/><BR/>I have a hard time identifying with Joseph. I am more mystical like Mary, pondering, reflecting, waiting and feeling the joy of anticipation.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for making sure I don't forget that he was there, too!Jeanine Byershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05984859965592927571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-565420487331888822007-12-19T21:18:00.000-05:002007-12-19T21:18:00.000-05:00since I am looking at Chaos vs calm my take on Jos...since I am looking at Chaos vs calm my take on Joseph is a little different this year. But you can read it <A HREF="http://followingfrodo.blogspot.com/2007/12/josephs-story.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>Gordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03767921257861340046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-18398540421507617152007-12-19T13:36:00.000-05:002007-12-19T13:36:00.000-05:00Ohh . . . thanks for the poem. That is just the s...Ohh . . . thanks for the poem. That is just the spring board that I needed for a sermon on Joseph. I am also interested in how the "right thing to do" was to divorce her and he didn't.Pastor Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-87020378848882683222007-12-19T13:01:00.000-05:002007-12-19T13:01:00.000-05:00Trying again --- Templeamma - I love that reflecti...Trying again --- Templeamma - I love that reflection by Joseph.Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07287169546184325690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-6008549067883227582007-12-19T12:59:00.000-05:002007-12-19T12:59:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07287169546184325690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-17816243515213404362007-12-19T12:58:00.000-05:002007-12-19T12:58:00.000-05:00I think we will sing Joseph Dearest.I think we will sing <A HREF="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/o/josephde.htm" REL="nofollow">Joseph Dearest</A>.Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07287169546184325690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-2297794896434812682007-12-19T11:53:00.000-05:002007-12-19T11:53:00.000-05:00I'm preaching Joseph this week since I preached Ma...I'm preaching Joseph this week since I preached Mary last week... equal time and all that...<BR/><BR/>In his book "He Still Moves Stones" Max Lucado has a chapter titled 'Joseph's Prayer' that is captivating. I wanted to share a couple sentences from his prayer: <BR/> 'I'm a carpenter. I make things fit. I square off the edges. I follow the pumb line. I measure twice before I cut once. Surprises are not the friend of a builder. I like to know the plan. I like to see the plan before I begin.<BR/> 'But this time I'm not the builder, am I? This time I'm a tool. A hammer in your grip. A nail between your fingers. I chisel is your hands. This project is yours, not mine....'Templeammahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15280336374114949650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-48266829226483283152007-12-19T10:32:00.000-05:002007-12-19T10:32:00.000-05:00MaryBeth, have you read Lamb? (by Christopher Moo...MaryBeth, have you read Lamb? (by Christopher Moore) It's all made up, of course, but quite hilarious nonetheless. In it Jesus does actually whip out a couple of "you're not my father" comments, and the way Joseph responds is almost exactly how I imagine it would go--based on the way Matthew 1 goes. It's pretty interesting, actually....fun to think about.Terihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10838436991138846332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-50071810823653241042007-12-18T23:19:00.000-05:002007-12-18T23:19:00.000-05:00I am not preaching, but Joseph always strikes such...I am not preaching, but Joseph always strikes such a chord for me, as another step-parent. <BR/><BR/>I'm sure Jesus never said, "You're not my REAL Dad!" or any of that crummy teenager stuff. But what a painful sense of not belonging Joseph must have had at times...and he stayed the course anyway. <BR/><BR/>Blessings on those who prepare and those who preach.Mary Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02970052534402740820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-11033722452518465812007-12-18T23:00:00.000-05:002007-12-18T23:00:00.000-05:00Thinking about Dreamers made me remember Kermit th...Thinking about Dreamers made me remember Kermit the Frog and <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thEiXbovv98" REL="nofollow">The Rainbow Connection</A>. The lovers, the dreamers and me.Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07287169546184325690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-49071240776931868462007-12-18T19:01:00.000-05:002007-12-18T19:01:00.000-05:00I went the "what about Joseph" route last year wit...I went the "what about Joseph" route last year with the Matthew story, essentially zeroing in on the level of faith it entailed for him to care for Mary with God's reassurance.<BR/><BR/>This Sunday I'm dealing with Ahaz and Isaiah. My jumping-off point is from Borg and Crossan's The First Christmas, where Borg shares a story about the first time he realized as a child that in Joy to the World we sing "the Lord IS come" rather than "the Lord HAS come," and how Ahaz may have been a guy who wanted to sing the latter so that he wouldn't have had to look for the sign of Immanuel.<BR/><BR/>Christmas Eve I talk about the baby Jesus being an incredibly impractical gift, but one that we still need.Jeff Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15077957635136271689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-43030379351033530102007-12-18T18:30:00.000-05:002007-12-18T18:30:00.000-05:00I am fascinated with how Joseph lives out his fait...I am fascinated with how Joseph lives out his faith in a quiet way. He is a righteous man, but that doesn't mean he's legalistic. He applies grace to his relationship with Mary even though she's apparently hurt him. Also, Joseph means "to add." When Rachel gave birth to Joseph she named him that asking God to add another son to her. Now this Joseph adds a Son, by protecting Mary and baby Jesus.Aimeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04457641842295626189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-59523545235548273792007-12-18T17:05:00.000-05:002007-12-18T17:05:00.000-05:00Long ago when I planned out Advent, I had chosen t...Long ago when I planned out Advent, I had chosen the duo of "named" and "nothingness" to focus my preaching on this Sunday. This element of being named, and how a name can make something real that was not real before. (And how we get TWO names today..."Immanuel" in Isaiah and "Jesus" in Matthew.)<BR/><BR/>But I want to talk about dreams, too! Especially after the comments here. I do really love this Joseph story.semfemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08669630858664979871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-53776471580335380412007-12-18T16:10:00.000-05:002007-12-18T16:10:00.000-05:00I have been inspired this week by a phrase from an...I have been inspired this week by a phrase from an Iona Community prayer, that God "crept in beside us"--what that means, what that looks like, how we make room in our comfy beds (I mean, uh lives) for someone like God to creep in beside us in the night. What kind of sacrifice is involved? What good comes? How might we do it? I'm using both Isaiah and Matthew--Isaiah to talk about the king's false piety actually crowding out rather than making room, and Matthew to talk about Joseph making room in his vision of his family, his life, etc.<BR/><BR/>Christmas Eve I am doing a three-section meditation...sort of lessons-and-carols style, but I am in charge of "Christmas Unplugged" which is the less formal service. I'm thinking of using some Iona community stuff for the first one, possibly some Barrie Shepherd for either the second or third (I really like this poem, and I know there are others I adore as well...choosing is the hard part!), and the other will likely be my own creation (unless Ann Weems steps up to the plate...). We'll see how that goes as it gets closer! :-)Terihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10838436991138846332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-16296836104184233262007-12-18T14:58:00.000-05:002007-12-18T14:58:00.000-05:00Not preaching this Sunday, the Deacon is...but we ...Not preaching this Sunday, the Deacon is...but we spoke about the readings and the idea of preaching on dreams and dreaming - it's a good theme, I think, as several of you have already mentioned. <BR/><BR/>I will preach Christmas Eve...not sure where I am going with it yet...haven't really had time to think about it...Terrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15667178624061122421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-8094131400881987022007-12-18T14:55:00.000-05:002007-12-18T14:55:00.000-05:00Songbird,Yes! Dreaming...Now that is a good way t...Songbird,<BR/><BR/>Yes! Dreaming...Now that is a good way to take it. Thank you. Dream upon dream...this is the center of our faith: Listening to dreams.<BR/><BR/>Wow. Thank you for that connection.Tripp Hudginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02987346084472861229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-13386548319311927822007-12-18T14:25:00.000-05:002007-12-18T14:25:00.000-05:00Well, I'm cheating this week. Since we cancelled ...Well, I'm cheating this week. Since we cancelled services on Sunday b/c of the storm, we are going to do almost everything this coming Sunday that we were going to do last Sunday, incl. <A HREF="http://adraftyplace.blogspot.com/2007/12/turning.html" REL="nofollow">my sermon </A> on the Magnificat. We have a couple of additional musical pieces that will be added in the service, but otherwise everything else remains the same. It's a nice relief for dh and me, b/c it means we can host his mother and brother this weekend without one of us feeling under the gun about sermon prep.<BR/><BR/>We never get to preach on Christmas Eve, b/c our congregation has a 35-year history of doing the King's College Lessons and Carols. The church has never had a sermon or meditation as a part of that service, and we have always understood it is a service that mustn't be tampered with. So, one less prep for us, I guess....earthchickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12447310443886956100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-50937936756712946072007-12-18T13:39:00.000-05:002007-12-18T13:39:00.000-05:00We discussed the Matthew reading in EfM online las...We discussed the Matthew reading in EfM online last night - and someone asked about the <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cherry-Tree_Carol" REL="nofollow">Cherry Tree Carol</A> has very human Joseph still struggling with the idea of Mary not pregnant by him in a early version. The idea of dreaming Josephs appeals to me.Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07287169546184325690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-38878944817009439772007-12-18T13:28:00.000-05:002007-12-18T13:28:00.000-05:00Oh, songbird, I agree. Could we just dream once a...Oh, songbird, I agree. Could we just dream once again? (Me too?)<BR/><BR/>And Rainbow Pastor, now you have me thinking of bringing figures up to the creche....hmmmm...they are kind of delicate, still...Dorcas (aka SingingOwl)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15626748280614018533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-84384907757841075002007-12-18T13:13:00.000-05:002007-12-18T13:13:00.000-05:00Love the poem, thank you. We are having our Childr...Love the poem, thank you. We are having our Children and Youth-led Christmas Pageant. I am always looking for new ideas for those, so I've posted my reader's copy of the order of worship, thinking it might help someone else next year. Youth read the narratives and share special music and dance (I hope!) Young children will be dressed as any character they choose in the Nativity, and will come forward to take their place up front. You can find it <A HREF="http://cheaperthanchocolate.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">here.</A>Queen Mumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18291567901639078908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-90740988648313625312007-12-18T12:59:00.000-05:002007-12-18T12:59:00.000-05:00I'm also preaching about Joseph. Tripp, I don't th...I'm also preaching about Joseph. Tripp, I don't think you're making too much at all. I'm interested in his connection to that other Joseph, the great interpreter of dreams. If we were to believe in dreams instead of focusing always on the practical realities in church life, what might the church do and be? Joseph and his dreams, his trust in the angels, his connection to the fathers and mothers of his faith--all that is fascinating and fertile territory. I wish I had a firmer sense of where I'm going with it, but Joseph and his dreams are my beginning point.<BR/>For Christmas Eve, I'm working on a brief reflection on "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," particularly on the idea of God coming to dwell with us, as one of us. Only the greatest love could inspire such a thing!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08235049965406944684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-6400542108303607012007-12-18T12:55:00.000-05:002007-12-18T12:55:00.000-05:00I'm looking at Joseph, too. And pondering Bruce Pr...I'm looking at Joseph, too. And pondering Bruce Prewer's sermon on "Holy Mongrels" here: http://home.alphalink.com.au/~nigel/DocA/04advent4.htm<BR/><BR/>Sorry can't seem to link it today...<BR/><BR/>I may well use the poem as well.<BR/><BR/>And as for Christmas Eve--I'm doing the earlier, "family" service, Host Church Pastor is doing the later one. Mine is lessons and carols, with the "meditation" being a children's time, a retelling of the story using figures from the creche. I wan to bring them from various places around the sanctuary, or have various children bring them up, but I don't know the children from that congregation very well. I may have them "find" the figures in various places around the chancel. Still thinking that one through.Rainbow Pastorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16294525557328362313noreply@blogger.com