OPEN IN PRAYER SCRIPTURE READING Together Read Jeremiah 14 (NRSV) The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought: 2 Judah mourns and her gates languish; they lie in gloom on the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem goes up. 3 Her nobles send their servants for water; they come to the cisterns, they find no water, they return with their vessels empty. They are ashamed and dismayed and cover their heads, 4 because the ground is cracked. Because there has been no rain on the land the farmers are dismayed; they cover their heads. 5 Even the doe in the field forsakes her newborn fawn because there is no grass. 6 The wild asses stand on the bare heights, they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail because there is no herbage. 7 Although our iniquities testify against us, act, O LORD, for your name’s sake; our apostasies indeed are many, God: Our Only Hope June 28, 2020 Rev. Tom Elson
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OPENINPRAYER
SCRIPTUREREADING
TogetherReadJeremiah14(NRSV)
ThewordoftheLORDthatcametoJeremiahconcerningthedrought:
2Judahmournsandhergateslanguish;theylieingloomontheground,andthecryofJerusalemgoesup.3Hernoblessendtheirservantsforwater;theycometothecisterns,theyfindnowater,theyreturnwiththeirvesselsempty.Theyareashamedanddismayedandcovertheirheads,4becausethegroundiscracked.Becausetherehasbeennorainonthelandthefarmersaredismayed;theycovertheirheads.5Eventhedoeinthefieldforsakeshernewbornfawnbecausethereisnograss.6Thewildassesstandonthebareheights,theypantforairlikejackals;theireyesfailbecausethereisnoherbage.
7Althoughouriniquitiestestifyagainstus,act,OLORD,foryourname’ssake;ourapostasiesindeedaremany,
God:OurOnlyHope
June28,2020Rev.TomElson
andwehavesinnedagainstyou.8OhopeofIsrael,itssaviorintimeoftrouble,whyshouldyoubelikeastrangerintheland,likeatravelerturningasideforthenight?9Whyshouldyoubelikesomeoneconfused,likeamightywarriorwhocannotgivehelp?Yetyou,OLORD,areinthemidstofus,andwearecalledbyyourname;donotforsakeus!10ThussaystheLORDconcerningthispeople:Trulytheyhavelovedtowander,theyhavenotrestrainedtheirfeet;thereforetheLORDdoesnotacceptthem,nowhewillremembertheiriniquityandpunishtheirsins.
11TheLORDsaidtome:Donotprayforthewelfareofthispeople.12Althoughtheyfast,Idonotheartheircry,andalthoughtheyofferburntofferingandgrainoffering,Idonotacceptthem;butbythesword,byfamine,andbypestilenceIconsumethem.
13ThenIsaid:“Ah,LordGOD!Herearetheprophetssayingtothem,‘Youshallnotseethesword,norshallyouhavefamine,butIwillgiveyoutruepeaceinthisplace.’”14AndtheLORDsaidtome:Theprophetsareprophesyingliesinmyname;Ididnotsendthem,nordidIcommandthemorspeaktothem.Theyareprophesyingtoyoualyingvision,worthlessdivination,andthedeceitoftheirownminds.15ThereforethussaystheLORDconcerningtheprophetswhoprophesyinmynamethoughIdidnotsendthem,andwhosay,“Swordandfamineshallnotcomeonthisland”:Byswordandfaminethoseprophetsshallbeconsumed.16AndthepeopletowhomtheyprophesyshallbethrownoutintothestreetsofJerusalem,victimsoffamineandsword.Thereshallbenoonetoburythem—themselves,theirwives,theirsons,andtheirdaughters.ForIwillpourouttheirwickednessuponthem.
17Youshallsaytothemthisword:Letmyeyesrundownwithtearsnightandday,andletthemnotcease,forthevirgindaughter—mypeople—isstruckdownwithacrushingblow,withaverygrievouswound.18IfIgooutintothefield,look—thosekilledbythesword!AndifIenterthecity,look—thosesickwith[b]famine!Forbothprophetandpriestplytheirtradethroughouttheland,andhavenoknowledge.
19HaveyoucompletelyrejectedJudah?DoesyourheartloatheZion?Whyhaveyoustruckusdownsothatthereisnohealingforus?Welookforpeace,butfindnogood;foratimeofhealing,butthereisterrorinstead.20Weacknowledgeourwickedness,OLORD,theiniquityofourancestors,forwehavesinnedagainstyou.21Donotspurnus,foryourname’ssake;donotdishonoryourgloriousthrone;rememberanddonotbreakyourcovenantwithus.22Cananyidolsofthenationsbringrain?Orcantheheavensgiveshowers?Isitnotyou,OLORDourGod?Wesetourhopeonyou,foritisyouwhodoallthis.
QUESTIONSFORREFLECTION
1.Asyouthinkofyourprayerlife,wouldyousaythereisadifferencebetweendesperationandconfession?Explain.2.Difficultexperienceswhichwegothroughdonotnecessarilymeanthatwehavebroughtthemonourselves,buthavetherebeendifficultiesinyourlifethatyoucantracetoyourearlierbehavior?Inotherwords,haveyouexperienceddifficultiesasaresultofyourlackoffaith,oryourunfaithfulnesstoGod?3.Jeremiahreflectsthepeople'srelianceontheirfeelingsofprivilegeasbeingpartofthepromiseofGodtoDavid'slineaskingforever,andforJerusalemtobeGod'sowndwellingplaceonearthforever.Thisprivilegeledtotheirunfaithfulnessandtotheirexile.HowdoyouseewhiteAmerican'sfeelingofprivilegeworkingitselfouttoday,anddoyouthinkwhiteprivilegeissomethingthatwhiteAmericansarereadyorwillingtogiveuporshareorevenunderstand?4.HowdoestheanthropomorphicimageoftearsrunningdownGod'scheeksstrikeyou,asanimageandasareflectionofGod'ssorrow?5.Whatdoyouthinkthewoundthatwillnotheal,thatcreatesGod'ssorrow,mightbeinourtexttoday?6.HaveyoueverprayedorarguedwithGodthatGodshouldcareaboutGod'scharacterandreputationinGod'sdealingswithyou?
7.DoyouthinkwhiteAmerica"getsit"whenconsideringthesignificantdetrimentaleffectsofracism,especiallytowardAfrican-Americans,inAmericatoday?Whyorwhynot.Doyouthinkyoudo?PRAYER
OPENINPRAYER
Jeremiahisoftenreferredtoas“theweepingprophet.”CloselyassociatedwiththebookofLamentations,themajorityofthebookislament:thepeople’stheprophet’s,God’s.Beginyourtimetogetherbypraying Soong Chan Rah’s 2020 adaptation of Lamentations 5.
Remember,Lord,whathappenedtoAhmaudArbery,BreonnaTaylor,andGeorgeFloyd;lookandseethedisgracefulwaytheirbodiesweretreated.OurinheritanceoftheimageofGodineveryhumanbeinghasbeenco-optedanddeniedbyothers.ThefamilyofAhmaud,Breonna,andGeorgeFloydhaslosttheirlovedones,widowedmothersonceagaingrievetheirdeadchildren.Wemustscrapforourbasichumanrights(eventositpeacefullyinourhomes);ourbasicneeds(eventheneedtobreathe)haveagreatprice.Corruptofficerspursueuswiththeirkneesonournecks;wearewearyandwefindnorest.Wesubmittouncaringgovernmentofficialsandtobigbusinesstogetenoughbread.Ourancestorssinnedthegreatsinofinstitutingslavery;theyarenomore—butwebeartheirshame.Thesystemofslaveryandinstitutionalizedracismruledoverus,andthereisnoonetofreeusfromtheirhands.Wegetbread(orjoginourneighborhoods)attheriskofourlivesbecauseofthegunsonthestreets.GeorgeFloydisdownonthestreet,hisbodycryingoutforair.Blackwomenhavebeenviolatedthroughoutournation'shistory;BreonnaTaylorgunneddowninherownhome.Nobleblackmenhavebeenhung,lynched,andgunneddown.eldersandspokesmenareshownnorespect.Youngmencan'tfindworkbecauseofunjustlyappliedlaws.Unjustlyincarceratedbecauseofstaggeringnegativeexpectations.Theelderstatesmenandcivilrightsleadershavebeenassassinated;youngpeoplewhospeakouttheirprotestthroughmusicaresilenced.
IsThereNoBalminGilead?
June21,2020
MichelleVecchio-LyzengaMinisterforChristianFormation
Trustinourultimatetriumphhasdiminished;ourtriumphantproclamationofvictoryhasturnedtoafuneraldirge.Oursenseofexceptionalismhasbeenexposed.Woetous,forwehavesinned.Becauseofthisourheartsarefaint,becauseofthesethingsoureyesgrowdimForourcitiesliedesolatewithpredatorylendersandgentrifiersprowlingoverthem.You,LORD,reignforever;yourthroneenduresfromgenerationtogeneration.Whydoyoualwaysforgetus?Whydoyouforsakeusforsolong?Restoreustoyourself,Lord,thatwemayreturn;renewasthatwemayfindanewwayforwardunlessyouhaveutterlyrejectedusandareangrywithusbeyondmeasure.
Excerptedandreworked(again)fromPropheticLament:ACallforJusticeinTroubledTimes.
OPENINGQUESTIONWhatwasitlikeforyoutoprayLamentations5?Tohearothersprayit?
SCRIPTUREREADING
TogetherRead8:18-9:1(NRSV)
Myjoyisgone,griefisuponme,myheartissick.19Hark,thecryofmypoorpeoplefromfarandwideintheland:“IstheLordnotinZion?IsherKingnotinher?”(“Whyhavetheyprovokedmetoangerwiththeirimages,withtheirforeignidols?”)20“Theharvestispast,thesummerisended,andwearenotsaved.”21ForthehurtofmypoorpeopleIamhurt,Imourn,anddismayhastakenholdofme.22IstherenobalminGilead?Istherenophysicianthere?Whythenhasthehealthofmypoorpeoplenotbeenrestored?
1Othatmyheadwereaspringofwater,andmyeyesafountainoftears,sothatImightweepdayandnightfortheslainofmypoorpeople!
QUESTIONSFORREFLECTION
1.Thisscripturepassageisacacophonyoflament.Readthroughthetextagain.Whodoyouthinkisspeakinginthedifferentsections?2.IfweinterprettheprimaryvoiceinthetextasthatofGod(oratleastGodspeakingthroughtheprophet)thenGodhereisexpressingimmeasurablegriefanddismay.Sitwiththatforamoment.HowdoyoufeelaboutalamentingGod?HowdoesthischallengeorcomplementyourconceptionsofGod?3.Verse19providesthediagnosisforwhyGod’speopleandGodaresicktodeath:idolatry.Howwouldyoudefineanidol?Underyourdefinition,couldthesocialconstructsofwhitesupremacyandracismbecategorizedasformsofnationalidolatry?4.Inyouropinion,whatarethebenefitsandchallengesofthinkingofwhitesupremacyandracismasapervasive,infectioussickness?HowmightthisshapeourthinkingaboutGodandourrespectiverolesinthehealingprocess?5.Ifthegreatestkeystoperpetuatingthepathologyofwhitesupremacyandracism,thegreatestbarrierstohealing,aredenial,defensiveness/fragility,anddistraction,whatarewaysthatwemightcorporatelyaddressthese?Shareonepracticeyoumighttakeupthisweek--alone,asagroup,withyourfamily,etc.--tocombatthese.Revisitthepracticeasagroupnextweek.6.Thehealingprocessoflament,self-examination,confession,andrepentanceisanongoinganduncomfortableone.AsFirstPresrecommitstotheuncomfortableworkofdismantlingandturningfromtheidolatroussystemsofwhitesupremacyandracism,whichareantitheticaltoGod’sintentionsforGod’speople,considerplacingthefollowingquestions(foundonthenextpage)inacommonplaceorinyourBibleforreference:_________________________________________ 1WhiteSupremacy:asociopoliticaleconomicsystemofdominationbasedonracialcategoriesthatbenefitsthosedefinedandperceivedaswhite.Thissystemofstructuralpowerprivileges,centralizes,andelevateswhitepeopleasagroup.(fromRobinDiangelo’sWhiteFragility,28.)2 Racism: Whenaracialgroup’scollectiveprejudiceisbackedbythepoweroflegalauthorityandinstitutionalcontrol.“Racismisastructure,notanevent.”(fromRobinDiangelo’sWhiteFragility,20.)
Thekeytomovingforwardiswhatwedowithourdiscomfort.Wecanuseitasadoorout--blamethemessengeranddisregardthemessage.Orwecanuseitasadoorinbyasking,
• Whydoesthisunsettleme?• Whatwoulditmeanformeifthisweretrue?• Howdoesthislenschangemyunderstandingofracialdynamics?• HowcanmyuneasehelprevealtheunexaminedassumptionsIhavebeenmaking?• IsitpossiblethatbecauseIamwhitetherearesomeracialdynamicsthatIcan’tsee?• AmIwillingtoconsiderthatpossibility?• IfIamnotwillingtodoso,thenwhynot?
PRAYER
OPENINPRAYER
Sharesomeofthefeelingsyouhaveexperiencedduringthispasttumultuousweekinourcountry.
SCRIPTUREREADING
TogetherReadJeremiah2:1–13,19(NRSV)
2ThewordoftheLORDcametome,saying:2GoandproclaiminthehearingofJerusalem,ThussaystheLORD:
Irememberthedevotionofyouryouth,yourloveasabride,howyoufollowedmeinthewilderness,inalandnotsown.3IsraelwasholytotheLORD,thefirstfruitsofhisharvest.Allwhoateofitwereheldguilty;disastercameuponthem,saystheLORD.4HearthewordoftheLORD,OhouseofJacob,andallthefamiliesofthehouseofIsrael.5ThussaystheLORD:
Whatwrongdidyourancestorsfindinmethattheywentfarfromme,andwentafterworthlessthings,andbecameworthlessthemselves?6Theydidnotsay,“WhereistheLORDwhobroughtusupfromthelandofEgypt,wholedusinthewilderness,inalandofdesertsandpits,inalandofdroughtanddeepdarkness,inalandthatnoonepassesthrough,
EmptyIdols
June14,2020Rev.SteveSchibsted
wherenoonelives?”7Ibroughtyouintoaplentifullandtoeatitsfruitsanditsgoodthings.Butwhenyouenteredyoudefiledmyland,andmademyheritageanabomination.8Thepriestsdidnotsay,“WhereistheLORD?”Thosewhohandlethelawdidnotknowme;therulerstransgressedagainstme;theprophetsprophesiedbyBaal,andwentafterthingsthatdonotprofit.9ThereforeoncemoreIaccuseyou,saystheLORD,andIaccuseyourchildren’schildren.10CrosstothecoastsofCyprusandlook,sendtoKedarandexaminewithcare;seeiftherehaseverbeensuchathing.11Hasanationchangeditsgods,eventhoughtheyarenogods?Butmypeoplehavechangedtheirgloryforsomethingthatdoesnotprofit.12Beappalled,Oheavens,atthis,beshocked,beutterlydesolate,saystheLORD,13formypeoplehavecommittedtwoevils:theyhaveforsakenme,thefountainoflivingwater,anddugoutcisternsforthemselves,crackedcisternsthatcanholdnowater.
19Yourwickednesswillpunishyou,andyourapostasieswillconvictyou.KnowandseethatitisevilandbitterforyoutoforsaketheLORDyourGod;thefearofmeisnotinyou,saystheLordGODofhosts.
QUESTIONSFORREFLECTION
1. Whatdoverses1–5tellyouabouttherelationshipbetweenGodandGod’speople?
2. WhatdoesGodwantthepeopletorememberinverses6–8?
3. WhatchargesdoesGodbringagainstthepeopleinverses11–13?
4. TimKellerdefinesanidolinthisway:AnidolisanythingmoreimportanttoyouthanGod,
anythingthatabsorbsyourheartandimaginationmorethanGod,anythingyouseektogiveyouwhatonlyGodcangiveyou.Discussthisdefinition.Whatarecommonidolsoftheheartinourculture?
5. Inhissermon,Stevediscussedthepossibleconsequencesofmakingfamilyanidol.Howcan
worshippingidolsbedestructive?Theparableofthefountainandcisternsinverse13ispowerful.WhatdoesthisparabletellusaboutGod?Aboutidols?
6. TimKellerwritesthisabouthowtoovercomeidolsinourlives:Here,then,isthepractical
answertoourownidolatries,...whicharenotspirituallysafetohaveandhold.Weneedtofindawaytokeepfromclutchingthemtoolightly,ofbeingenslavedtothem.WewillneverdosobymouthingabstractionsabouthowgreatGodis.Wehavetoknow,beassured,thatGodsoloves,cherishes,anddelightsinusthatwecanrestourheartsinhimforoursignificanceandsecurityandhandleanythingthathappensinlife.
7. Whatcaneasilybecomeanidolinyourlife?Sharethisinsightwithothermembersofyour
groupandthenprayforeachother.
CLOSEINPRAYER
OPENINPRAYER
Sharesomeofthefeelingsyouhavehadasourcountryexperiencedatumultuousweek.
ScriptureReading
TogetherReadJeremiah 1:1-10,17-19(NRSV)
1ThewordsofJeremiahsonofHilkiah,ofthepriestswhowereinAnathothinthelandofBenjamin,2towhomthewordoftheLORDcameinthedaysofKingJosiahsonofAmonofJudah,inthethirteenthyearofhisreign.3ItcamealsointhedaysofKingJehoiakimsonofJosiahofJudah,anduntiltheendoftheeleventhyearofKingZedekiahsonofJosiahofJudah,untilthecaptivityofJerusaleminthefifthmonth.
4NowthewordoftheLORDcametomesaying,
5“BeforeIformedyouinthewombIknewyou,andbeforeyouwerebornIconsecratedyou;Iappointedyouaprophettothenations.”6ThenIsaid,“Ah,LordGOD!TrulyIdonotknowhowtospeak,forIamonlyaboy.”7ButtheLORDsaidtome,
“Donotsay,‘Iamonlyaboy’;foryoushallgotoalltowhomIsendyou,andyoushallspeakwhateverIcommandyou.8Donotbeafraidofthem,forIamwithyoutodeliveryou,saystheLORD.”9ThentheLORDputouthishandandtouchedmymouth;andtheLORDsaidtome,
ACostlyCall
June7,2020Rev.SteveSchibsted
“NowIhaveputmywordsinyourmouth.10See,todayIappointyouovernationsandoverkingdoms,topluckupandtopulldown,todestroyandtooverthrow,tobuildandtoplant.”11ThewordoftheLORDcametome,saying,“Jeremiah,whatdoyousee?”AndIsaid,“Iseeabranchofanalmondtree.”12ThentheLORDsaidtome,“Youhaveseenwell,forIamwatchingovermywordtoperformit.”13ThewordoftheLORDcametomeasecondtime,saying,“Whatdoyousee?”AndIsaid,“Iseeaboilingpot,tiltedawayfromthenorth.”
14ThentheLORDsaidtome:Outofthenorthdisastershallbreakoutonalltheinhabitantsoftheland.15FornowIamcallingallthetribesofthekingdomsofthenorth,saystheLORD;andtheyshallcomeandallofthemshallsettheirthronesattheentranceofthegatesofJerusalem,againstallitssurroundingwallsandagainstallthecitiesofJudah.16AndIwilluttermyjudgmentsagainstthem,foralltheirwickednessinforsakingme;theyhavemadeofferingstoothergods,andworshipedtheworksoftheirownhands.17Butyou,girdupyourloins;standupandtellthemeverythingthatIcommandyou.Donotbreakdownbeforethem,orIwillbreakyoubeforethem.18AndIformyparthavemadeyoutodayafortifiedcity,anironpillar,andabronzewall,againstthewholeland—againstthekingsofJudah,itsprinces,itspriests,andthepeopleoftheland.19Theywillfightagainstyou;buttheyshallnotprevailagainstyou,forIamwithyou,saystheLORD,todeliveryou.
QUESTIONSFORREFLECTION
1. StevementionedtheroleoftheprophetintheOldTestament.Whatwasthisrole?WhatisJeremiahcalledtodo(vv.4–10)
2. WhatwasgoingoninJudahthatmadetheworkofaprophetevenmoredemanding?3. HowdoesthewordoftheLordshapeJeremiah’sidentity?4. HowdoesGodaddressJeremiah’sfears?5. WhatpreventsyousometimesfromrespondingtoGod’scall?,6. StevesaidthatpartofthecalltofollowJesusisthecalltolove,justice,and
righteousness.WhatisthedefinitionofjusticethatStevegaveinhissermon?Thedefinitionofrighteousness?
7. Shareyourexperienceofracismwithothermembersofyourgroup.Haveyoubeena
victimofracism?Howhaveyoustruggledwithracism?
8. Doyoufeelcalledtofightracisminourcountry?Whataresomethingsyoucandoto
jointhisfight?
CLOSEINPRAYER
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