I’ll see you next Sunday. I’m playing for camp Monday through Friday this
week.
Here are my notes from last week:
Finding a Home, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Pastor Dan Damon, Richmond 1st UMC, 7-20-14
Introduction
Tell stories about the wonderful Hymn Society conferenceŠ
Singing without a Net, John Bell
At Your Altars, when the books didn¹t arrive
Global Songs, Swee Hong Lim
Teacher of songwriting
Next Year in New Orleans
Sing and play the Invitation Song parody:
Are you coming with me
on down to the sea?
The river will take you there.
Just get in a boat
that has an outboard motor,
or else you can come by air.
There’s a city that has
great food and hot jazz.
Like mockingbirds we will sing.
From there you can see
the lazy Mississippi
roll on as our songs take wing.
The scholars in the moonlight
will cry aloud for ink and pen.
They’ll write immortal hymns by the hour,
and set us singing God’s praise again.
I can see Richard Leach
right there on the beach,
and Mel’s gonna be there, too.
there’s room for some more,
so treat the folks you care for
next year in New Orleans.
a parody by Dan Damon, 2014
(Richard Leach and Mel Bringle have approved this message.
Retell the Scripture Story
We heard part of the Abraham saga today in our reading from Genesis 28. ³We
are climbing Jacob¹s Ladder² is the African American spiritual associated
with the story. When Jacob awakened from his dream, he said, ³Surely the
Lord is in the place, and I knew it not.² v. 16
When did you discover that the Lord who is love is in this place? Was it
years ago, or only very recently? Are you finding a home with us? I hope so.
As United Methodists we bring a variety of beliefs together under one roof,
united by a concern for human rights, justice and peace, and celebrating and
acknowledging the universals of love and truth, joy and sorrow, hope and
grace for each new day. I ask you if you are practicing your faith. I do not
ask if you believe the right things. We come together here in a spirit of
love and service to the world as it is, and as it may become.
Turning to the gospel lesson, we notice the parable of the sower. The
kingdom of heaven is likened to a sower who sowed good seed in his field.
But his enemy came by night and sowed weeds and went away. The sower told
his servants to let them both grow together, then at harvest time, to cut
and burn the weeds first, and then they would have wheat to gather in the
barn.
The disciples did not understand this parable, so they asked Jesus to
explain it. He said, ³He that sows is the Son of humanity; the field is the
world, the good seed are the children of the kingdom, the weeds are the
hurtful things in us [in modern terms, are the shadow side]. In the story we
hear that God allows the good and bad to co-exist until the harvest, the
close of human history.
Every gardener knows the truth of this story: there are flowers and weeds,
growing together. Of course some times what you call a weed, I call a
flower. The good and the things we call bad grow together on the earth. Each
has a place. As Mary Lee once told me, ³There¹s a lot of good stuff in that
mud.² This is a difficult parable, but it encourages us to take an honest
look at ourselves and our choices. Are you finding a fertile field, sinking
roots, growing and bearing fruit of your kind where God has planted you? I
trust you are finding good soil here, today, with us. Thank you for being
part of our garden today.
Application
I will close today with an unpublished hymn text regarding the universal
need to find a home.
All people need a home,
a place to feel secure,
where common needs are known and met,
a home that will endure.
All people need a home,
a welcome at the door,
a place to share and to enjoy,
a home for rich and poor.
All people need a home,
a place where hurts can heal,
where help is given and received,
a home where love is real.
God, help us build a world
where all can feel secure,
a place where all can live and love,
a world that will endure.
Dan Damon, 2014
WORDS © 2014 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights
reserved.
Let us be in prayer.
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Pastor Dan received an email below from a friend and collaborator, Patrick Matsikenyiri who is a retired music professor at Africa University in Zimbabwe. His wife, Avis, needs a hip replacement and he lacks the financial resources for her to have the surgery. Our prayers are with them.
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Lauren McLeod welcomes your prayers for healing.
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Sandra Kokoruda (Fran Smith’s daughter) is having severe medical problems. She recently moved to North Dakota where the medical community has been more responsive to her medical needs than here in California but she had not followed through with contact until it became emergent. Fran is particularly stressed because it’s difficult to be so far away although Sandra’s physician has been in contact with her. Pleas add them in your prayers for healing and compassionate support.
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Kristi and Russ Johnson went to Idaho for Kristi’s nephew’s wedding. Russ was having some medical difficulties and tests have shown that he needs a pacemaker. Kaiser services are available to them. They would be pleased to have your prayers for healing.
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Molly Smith is requesting prayers for her brother who has been treated for a brain tumor for several years and has recently entered the Hospice program. Prayers for his family and her brother as they go through this very difficult time.
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Deby McFadyen is asking for prayers for her father, Jack McFadyen, who has lung cancer and has started chemotherapy She also requests prayers for a friend, Sara Talkington who has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. She’s married with a 4 year old so
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Pat Dornan and Linda Pereira continue to need your prayers of support and healing. Linda had surgery to remove the hematoma. She is home but weak.
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Robbie Robinson would appreciate your prayers.
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Helen Wysham welcomes your prayers for healing as she undergoes chemotherapy.
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News
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Plans are underway for our 6th Annual Jean Eakle Silent Auction on October 25, 2014, 4-7 pm at the Point San Pablo Yacht Club, 700 W. Cutting Blvd. Art work, jewelry, arts & crafts, raffle, hors d’oeuvres, music and a whole lot of fun! Suggested donation $10. Letters will be going out soon to encourage local businesses to donate. We are hoping to raffle off dinners for two, gym memberships, gift certificates, etc. We plan to have items for sale as well as auction items. Do you have art work you no longer use? Do you knit, crochet, weave, potter, make jewelry, paint or sculpt? Would you like to donate to the auction? Can you recommend a contact person for businesses that may be interested in helping us out? Please contact Debbie Benko @ 510-517-6724 or DebBenko160@aol.com <mailto:DebBenko160@aol.com
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The new Sunday School windows are in! They are a match to the previous windows BUT you can easily open them to get cross ventilation. Jonathan Swett is painting them this week Thank you Jonathan for your hours of work and the beautiful job you always do.
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George Peter Tingley who is a composer, has been treating us with his music during services. This past Sunday he played and we sang three new hymns he had composed. Hymn writing is new to him and Pastor Dan is mentoring him. The hymns were lovely and George was delighted to hear them sung for the first time.
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Camp Liberty Update: With the current fighting and chaos in Irag, our Irani friends in Camp Liberty need your prayers and support. I am sure this is a harrowing time for them. It is reported that there are armed guards at the gates with guns pointed into the camp at all times.
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Our missionary, Katherine Parker in Nepal: We only need about $30 to complete our $500 sponsorship donation. Won’t you consider giving so we can continue to sponsor her good work?
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Kia Croom (Public Relations) from GRIP will worship with us and speak briefly to update us on GRIP on Sunday, July 27.
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Pastor Dan’s time away this summer:
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August 11-20 Vacation in Hawaii.
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August 28-September1 Western Methodist Justice Movement Meeting at Lake Tahoe.
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The Administrative Board will not be meeting in July, The next meeting is Thursday, August 14 at 7 pm in Friendship Hall.
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Vacation Bible School: August 4-8, 9-11:30 am in Friendship Hall. This is always a fun time with the children. If you would like to help or bring snacks let Jean Reynolds know at 510 734 3942 or sweetheart05@mac.com. They need refreshments every day and lunch is provided on Friday.
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Finance Committee Meeting is scheduled for Saturday August 9, 1:00 pm at Matt and Jennifer Foster’s home.1052 Hawthorne Dr., Rodeo.
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Labor Day Weekend: August 29 through September 1st 2014, Stepping Out in Faith, sponsored by the Western Methodist Justice Movement which advocates compassionate US immigration policies, fully inclusive UMC ministries, human rights in the Philippines, a just peace for Israel-Palestine, reproductive justice and more.
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Registration is open. Lake Tahoe, Zephyr Point Retreat Center. For more info and to register: wmjm.org.
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6th Annual Jean Eakle Silent Auction: Saturday, October 25, 2014, 4-7 pm, Point San Pablo Yacht Club, 700 W. Cutting Blvd, Richmond. Donation at door $10. We will have arts/crafts for bidding; music and hors d’oeuvres to satisfy other senses and a good time! To donate or offer help, contact Debbie Benko: 510 517 6724 or DebBenko160@aol.com.
