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Dear Siblings, 

I’ve been thinking a lot about the relationship, if any, between the American experiment and the Protestant reformations. I think there’s something really important there. In the past few weeks, I’ve been exploring Mercerberg Theology, one of the cornerstones of the Evangelical & Reformed Church that is now part of the UCC, and some of their earliest theologians offer the notion that the Protestant reformations were an inevitable consequence of the process of becoming. Put another way, reformations weren’t a one time event or separation, but rather the continuation of the work of more fully living into God’s call for creation.

I think this is similar to the becoming project of this republic. The preamble of our constitution is actually very clear… “in order to form a more perfect union.” There’s an acknowledgement that this experiment isn’t a “one-and-done” endeavor, but rather a constantly unfolding, emerging and reemerging project of becoming something that more fully realizes the highest ideals, visions, and aspirations of who we could be. 

Indeed, in the long history of this republic, there is much to celebrate and much to lament. And through it all, we are here. 250 years old. On Sunday, we’ll sit with text from Zechariah and Matthew, which both also form an understanding of “becoming.” If you wanna know a bit about what’s informed some of my thoughts for Sunday, check out the Sermon Sandbox!

Please remember that we’ll have a special Sunday School class on Sunday: America 250: The Words We Remember! This group will gather in Room 206 at 9:45 AM. You can learn more about it below!

See you Sunday (and be safe this weekend),

Thomas

Welcome to the first (published) edition of Sermon Sandbox! This won’t happen every week, but, from time to time, I think it’s helpful to give you an idea of some of the things that I’ve encountered and found helpful in preparing a sermon or worship service. The content below is by no means exhaustive! And it is in addition to a handful of commentaries that I tend to consult. If you’re curious about the things that go into a sermon, then the Sermon Sandbox is for you! See below for for this week’s edition!

On March 27th, 2002, the Christie’s Auction House sold a 2-page document, in fine condition, oblong in shape, that noted a list of supporters of a student enrolled at the Charity School of Wolverhampton, England. The document was sold for 270,000 dollars, which is nearly half a million dollars today. In almost every other case, a document like that would be more sentimental than monetarily valuable. And yet, this document carried significant value. It’s not the content of the document that mattered, but rather one of its signers: Button Gwinnett. Gwinnett’s signature is among the rarest of all the signers of the Declaration of Independence. This is due mostly to his death in a duel a few years after the signing of the declaration. Button Gwinnett was born in England, was a failed businessman in the colonies, but was respected politically. When Georgia sent its representatives to Philadelphia, Gwinnett was one of them. Before his death, Gwinnett also briefly served as the President of Georgia, one of the only people to hold that office. All of this may seem random, but it’s important to note that Gwinnett was a Congregationalist! Gwinnett, and one of Georgia’s other signers,  Lyman Hall, were both members of Midway Congregational Church. This really shouldn’t be a surprise. Congregationalism is linked to an unending thread of independence. 

A handful of Central members were once members of the now closed, Button Gwinnett UCC! I don’t imagine we’ll talk much about Gwinnett on Sunday, but reading more about his story has been very helpful in thinking about what relationship might exists between the reformations and the journey of the United States.

A few other things have been helpful in my reading and preparation  for this sermon, you can find a few of those things listed below:

Music: “American Dreaming” by Sierra Ferrell, “American Anthem” by Norah Jones, “eyes locked on the king” by abbie gamora & the upper room, “The American Suite Op. 98 B. 190” by Antonin Dvorak

Film: CARS by Disney Pixar

Art: “Statue of Liberty” by Ulysses Davis, “The Boy with No Past” by Amy Sherald, “Sunshine to Put in My Pocket” by Amy Sherald, “Transforming Liberty” by Amy Sherald, “For Love, and for Country” by Amy Sherald. All of these pieces are currently on display at the High Museum, as part of the “American Sublime” exhibit

Writings: “On Being a Christian in a Time of Peril and Pain” by Rev. Dr. Nancy Taylor, “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Remarks at the Presentation Ceremony for the Presidential Medal of Freedom(Jan. 1989)” by Ronald Reagan, “Remarks on 2008 Presidential Election” by George W. Bush, “2012 DNC Speech” by Rev. Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver, “The Principle of Protestantism” by John W. Nevin, “Ain’t I a Woman” by Sojourner Truth, “Strangers and Pilgrims: Female Preaching in America” by Catherine Brekus

Dear Siblings, 

This Sunday, we’ll gather in the bittersweet celebration of Rev. Liz’s ministry with Central. I’m grateful to our History Team, particularly Allen Moye, who combed through our archives and determined that Rev. Liz is the 33rd Senior Minister of Central Congregational UCC. Our service on Sunday will reflect on the words of the psalmist found in Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18. We’ll have special music during the service too! 

Please be sure to plan to stay after the service for a farewell luncheon in honor of Rev. Liz!

See you Sunday,

Thomas

Dear Members, Friends, Siblings, All,

 Happy Juneteenth!

Blessed Juneteenth, too, if you can manage it. It’s a new observance for many of us and a wonderful excuse to celebrate our checkered history as a nation. Two hundred and fifty years of trying to get along with each other and find forgiveness, reconciliation, and grace. It has not been “all lambs and bunnies,” as Roberta Bondi would say, but I have to believe we have come a long, long way and perhaps even done our best. Jeez, it’s hard to leave what we know for a place we don’t.

On this last, please see Ken Samuels’ Daily Devotional here!  

And now, speaking of what we know (or think we do) and what we don’t, you may be asking what I was doing in Paris. And you may not be asking but I want to tell, so. If I told you this story before, please forgive me.

When I lived in Paris, lo, these many years ago, it became my practice on Fridays to leave the first dance class I had ever had, where I constantly fell short of the glory of God and the dance teacher, and where my inability to understand either dance language or French was on display mercilessly, to take a bus ride. To console my wounded spirit, I would look for a route that I had not ridden before and take it to the end of the line, where I would get down and get lost. In a neighborhood that I’d not seen before. (Paris has hundreds of neighborhoods, all unique and fascinating.)

To make these little sojourns interesting, I had two goals in mind as I wandered. First, to find a different bus to go home and, second, to sample the pastries of a different patisserie. Over time, a little contest emerged to see who made the best croissant, then pain au raisin, and finally, gâteaux aux amandes. Oh, the butter! I got lost, repeatedly. I got found just as often. I saw parts Paris that I would never have seen and have not seen since. And I learned this: To be found, you must first be lost. (The best croissant turned out to be downstairs from me, chez M. Weber.)

The gospel reading for this week is Matthew 10:24-39. That passage is full of the wonderful paradoxes included in “the cost and joy of discipleship” and the Christian life. All the week’s readings brought my Paris practice to mind. My personal paraphrase of Matt 10:39: “Those who find life in following in the way of Jesus will lose it, those who lose life for Jesus’ sake will find it.” But you gotta risk being lost for a time, find the faith and trust in between. This is the really hard part. Pray God there’s a patisserie along the way to keep your courage and faith up. The risks of lost are many, the rewards even more.

This is my last Friday eNote as Designated Term Senior Minister at Central Church. It’s time to “find my way” and the bus that will take me to a neighborhood I don’t know and then find my way home to another location and vocation. I’m sure I did not know that when I set out on that trip earlier this month, but I had a practiced pattern there. At home now, I am sure there was method I could not yet see in the trip. “And G-d heard…” Genesis 21:17

Sunday at Central has lots to offer including, adult Sunday School classes at 9:30 am; 11:00 am worship, in the house and online; children in the foreground and background, making their precious noises; a congregational budget meeting (whohoo!); and the fellowship of all of us together on this journey by stages with music, prayer, flowers and Coffee & Conversation. A time to gather in celebration of Fathers, and communion with God and neighbors. I hope your wanderings will find you “home” with us.

Love and hugs,

Rev. Liz

PS I did miss you, Paris notwithstanding. I will miss you again. It’s been a great ride.

Join Jillian W. and Rev. Thomas on Thursday nights for a summer discussion group where we’ll explore Christian imagery and themes in the works of Lady Gaga. Please sign up, so we know who’s interested: Electric Chapel Sign Up.

Thursdays at 7pm | Connie & JoAnne’s house | Sign up for address info.

I’m looking forward to being with you again on Sunday. I’m grateful to Rev. Cecelia for offering the sermon last week, and to everyone in the Gen XYZ(formerly 20s/30s) group for leading worship alongside Josh.

Rev. Liz was(and still is) in France! And I was in Savannah and Tybee Island. Returning to work was really fun this week. On Wednesday, we closed our first cohort of the Sacred Seasons conversation group. I wasn’t sure what would happen in that space, nor who all would show up, but I’m so glad that for six Wednesdays, a dozen people showed up for two hours, to sit and talk about the reality of death. That space became, in the words of almost every participant, a “trusted and safe space” to talk about the things that are in their hearts and on their minds. I’m sad that our cohort has ended, but I’m also looking forward to the group that will gather in the fall… perhaps you’ll be part of that group.

On Thursday, I spent an afternoon with the Harrisons, touring Red’s Farm Preserve in Ormewood. The urban farm is a really wonderful testament to vision, stewardship, and community partnership. It’s also home to some wonderfully ripe blueberries :).

You can learn more about Bill Harrison’s late son “Red” in this beautiful obituary published in the AJC.

In both of these experiences, I’ve thought a lot about the work that we’re called to do in the world. Who calls us? How do we know? Do we do it together or alone? And I think there’s probably some question of “worthiness” in there too. On Sunday, the lectionary invites us into the story of Jesus commissioning the disciples, which hits on all the things I’ve already been thinking about. I have a hunch you’re thinking about them too. So, let’s make meaning together on Sunday, according to our best endeavors… the Lord assisting us. 

See you Sunday, 

Thomas

Friends, Christians, countrymen, 

We’ve heard descriptions of the Holy Spirit quite a bit in recent sermons: it’s present but invisible, like a breeze; comforting and dependable, like a blanket. The week before Jesus ascended to heaven, he described the Holy Spirit as an “advocate” or “comforter” he was leaving with the disciples. On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit appeared as tongues of fire that made the disciples understandable in every language.

In the GenXYZ class, we’re picking up the story right after this happens. We’re exploring the lives and actions of the nascent Christian church after Jesus left. We”ve discovered how they express their remarkable experience to others and what they did in response to the message, “you have been saved”. I’m not really sure where to find the Holy Spirit in my life, or where it’s leading me. That’s one of the things that drew me to the class.

Together, we’ve found some guidance on where to begin  The early church in Acts 2:42 “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers”. In pursuing those tenets: apostles’ teachings, fellowship, shared meals, and prayers, we’ve been able to take small steps towards listening to the Holy Spirit when it calls us and emulating Jesus in our everyday actions. Quoth Reverend Liz, “Have you seen him?”

So far in our reading, the Holy Spirit has filled and empowered the apostles to share the truth of Jesus. In Acts Chapter 2, while witnessing to crowds in Jerusalem on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit made them understandable in every language. When they were questioned in Acts Chapter 4 after being imprisoned for speaking of Jesus’ resurrection, it filled the uneducated disciples with the boldness to proclaim Jesus’ message of salvation for all. Moreover, the church’s actions after Jesus left are radical, then and now: they held all possessions in common, gave their material wealth to those in need, and focused their lives on supporting one another and spreading witness. 

In that light, the Holy Spirit looks like something incredible; a momentous force that can spur large groups of people to act with peace, love, and understanding. I want to experience it, but my everyday life feels very far from the world of the early church. How can I become filled with the Holy Spirit? From what we’ve read thus far, I think it’s about leaning into boldness, spontaneity, and action, as the early church did. I don’t have the full picture, though, so I’m excited to hear your thoughts on Sunday. 

I do think I’ve heard the Holy Spirit in my life before. You might be familiar–that pain you feel when you see someone in need, the little voice that says “Someone should do something”? I think that’s a whisper of the Holy Spirit, pushing us to action in the things we care about. Because God loves us, he gives us the ability to add more love, kindness, and justice to the chaotic world we inhabit. Each person is uniquely skilled in some part of making the world better, no matter how small. I hope you’ll join the conversation on how to reflect God’s love in our world. It wouldn’t be the same without you. 

Thanks for lending your ears, 

Autumn Siebold

Dear Siblings,

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday. Last week, I went up to Tennessee to be with my family, as my grandfather’s health continues to decline. He’s fine for now. Thank you for your prayers.

In the middle of the week, I went to Utah to visit a few friends. I enjoyed returning to Salt Lake City! This Sunday, we’ll encounter the Trinity and sit with the many names of God. I’m often curious what it is that we intend to do when we name God. Perhaps you’ll think about this a bit too over the next few days.

As always, there are many things happening in the life of our community, so be sure to check out the big updates below and check out the June edition of the The Monthly!

See you Sunday,

Thomas