The Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew   Caravaggio  c. 1603-1606
oil on canvas The Royal Collection Department, London

Calling All Disciples!

In the early sequence preceeding Lent we dealt with John the Baptist, the baptism of Jesus, and the Hebrew priest Samuel and now we are concerned with the call of the first disciples! The gist of this January 22nd (Epiphany 3B) sermon is not to elevate these few men (there were women, too) but to recognize in their call what is really our call. Jesus chooses wisely in calling these first ones, for Peter shows us much of what we share in common and the silence of most of the other disciples in both tradition and texts is certainly worth consideration.

VOCATUS ATQUE NON VOCATUS DEUS ADERIT is the inscription Jung had carved in stone over the door to his home where he worked as an analyst and where he did most of his thinking, reading, and writing.  Translated, Called or NOT called, God is present --that phrase can add much to the understanding of our call as Disciples of Jesus. Jung hoped for his patients a healthy fear of the Lord --not a fright, but a respect and an awareness, almost like what the AA folk generically describe and understand as that Higher Power that is always there, calling to us and available. What can we discern about the early church and their understanding of the call to a select few as in this scriptural image and the call to many, which is really what the Gospel of Mark is? What can we make of that call for ourselves?

Click below to listen to the recent sermon about the Call or Invitation which comes from Jesus.

The readings are from The New Revised Standard Version Bible,
and the Jung quotation is found in Jung, C.G. (1975) Letters: 1951-1961,
ed. G. Adler, A. Jaffe, and R.F.C. Hull, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, vol. 2.

John Singleton Copley, 1780
Samuel Reading to Eli the Judgments of God upon Eli's House
Oil on canvas, Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford

Old Guard or New?

Samuel and the story of his childhood experience in the temple serves to set an important stage for Jesus, at least that is what some of the gospel writers may have in mind. The parallels with the unusual birth stories of both, their expressed wisdom at such a young age, the voice of God both hear, and the stature Samuel had in the minds of first century Jews and Christians, all combine to make this a story primary to also telling the start of Jesus's ministry.  It won't be long before we are at Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday (April 8, 2012), so every hint we can get along the way --the way of the Cross --can help our understanding and our journey in faith. Yet as it is with John the Baptist, Jesus is similar but quite different from Samuel.  There is a reason the Christian Scriptures are called The New Testament!

Click below to listen to the recent sermon about Samuel and Jesus.  The reading is from The New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Baptism of Christ by Pietro Perugino, circa 1500.  So many of these medieval era or later paintings depict Jesus like this, standing to the left of John as we view it, getting water poured over him as they stand in ankle deep water. Do a Google image search for THE BAPTISM OF JESUS and you'll see more of what I mean.

On the Way to the Cross

Soon after The Epiphany, the lectionary wisely propels us directly into the Baptism of Jesus, and so right on the way to Good Friday and Easter --this is the start of his ministry and the beginning of Mark's gospel.  Many Christians read or hear about this baptism story and take so much for granted, sort of like the image above, in which the artist portrays Jesus as a young Italian being baptized as he himself had probably witnessed how the church baptized adults and children. The artist probably isn't so much concerned with facts but rather in establishing faith --the almost total opposite of what modern or post modern Christians usually care about!  Remember, John was Baptizing a repentance form of baptism --so what is Jesus doing being baptized? How does that fit some people's idea about Jesus? 

John is a lingering charachter from our recent birth narratives (he jumped for joy in hs mother Elizabeth's womb upon hearing the voice of Mary).  So for a little while we will deal with John as a precurser, a forerunner of Jesus.  This sermon asks not WWJD (What Would JOHN Do?) rather What Does Jesus Do? (WDJD) and What WIll You Do? (WWYD).  What Will You Do Now (WWYDN)?  OK!  Lets not get carried away with slogans or abbreviations --lets get carried away with Jesus (LGCAWJ)!  Couldn't resist one more!

Included in this January 8, 2012 sermon is a wonderful quotation from:
The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind--A New Perspective on Christ and His Message
by Cynthia Bourgeault, Shambhala Publications. 

New Years Day Sermon  
Lois Williams in the Pulpit

Lois Williams was our Guest Preacher on New Years Day, when she delivered a message meaningful at anytime of year but most appropriate as we begin the new calendar year --by God's grace.  Lois is the Chairman of the Elders and a vital member of Chalice Christian Church, active in many areas and especially in the care and nurture of the entire congregation through the agency of the elders. Her commitment to Christ and love of his church is something which stands as an example for all of the church. 

I have said to Lois that if she were a bit younger I would make her go to seminary --and I'm not kidding! But the truth is that if we had a church full of people like Lois, the seminary might come to us!  A lifetime of study and being open to the leading of the LORD, a humble spirit and purity of heart, and the blessings of a sharp mind and good health have given her the ability to love, serve, and therefore to extend to us another blessing from God. 

We have several wonderful members who could step up to the plate and hit a home run from the pulpit whenever I'm away. Thanks be to God for the many blessings we have at CCC!  --Rev. Jack Anglin

Delivered January 1, 2012 

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Who We Are! What We Are!

Have a look at this Video from Disciples.org.  We have a rich tradition that has much to offer this complicated age.  Learning about us is not just for newcomers, all our members and friends would benefit from seeing this film.