History of Sunday School

Over the past century, Sunday School has remained a constant in the life of the Church. Initially, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) believed that it was a parent’s privilege and responsibility to train children in the faith. Our initial distrust of Sunday School was rooted in its history.

Sunday School, as we know it today, began in England when many “high-church” Anglicans noted that children were running the streets on Sunday morning. As the Industrial Revolution had reached full swing in larger towns in England, families had given up farming for work in the new factories that doted the urban landscape. Just as children had worked the farms, they were required to work in factories that proved to be extremely dangerous. Factories shut down on Sunday morning so that workers could attend worship. The Church of England was embroiled in its own debate over clergy who favored a more formal and disciplined expression of the faith versus evangelical clergy who had claimed power and influence in the English Church. As these evangelical clergy, who ironically had gained their influence through their ministry to the poor, attained positions of power within the Church, the evangelical bishops began assigning these “high-church” clergy to poorer congregations as punishment.

In an effort to give the factory children an education, these “high-church” clergy started Sunday Schools, where in addition to Bible, children were taught reading and math. Meanwhile, the Methodist-Episcopal clergy of the United States quickly adopted Sunday School as a way to teach the faith while they were away circuit riding. The movement grew, adopting their own structure, banners and flags. The Christian Flag of today started out as the Methodist Sunday School Flag. These Sunday Schools were instrumental in teaching basic Christian doctrine throughout the frontier. Soon, the Sunday School movement had become a mainstay in all denominations.

Today, Sunday School is an opportunity for children and adults alike to spend devoted time in Bible Study and in learning the basic tenets of the Christian faith. They are small groups where individuals can develop friendships and are a perfect venue to engage one another in matters of everyday life. As one of your pastors, I encourage you and your whole family to attend Sunday School.

A New Racial Tension

Denominationally, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has seen tremendous national growth of African, Asian and Latino/a immigrants. This influx has brought new diversity in worship style and congregational administration. Many of these immigrant congregations are reluctant to embrace the full expression of ministry of women and remain ardent defenders of what they term “biblical sexual ethics” for both clergy and lay leaders. Latino/a congregations in the Northeast have turned the tide of Regional Church elections and policies regarding education, social justice and sexuality. Many predominantly Anglo members who in the past supported the full integration of these populations in General and Regional Church policy making are concerned about the impact these new socially conservative positions will have on an established Disciple ethos. The responses from these communities are that the critiques are racist in that Anglo Disciples are reluctant to welcome the opinions and leadership of people of color. Anglo Disciples respond that their reluctance is philosophical, not cultural or racial differences.

The irony is that white liberals worked to embrace the culture of people of color only to find that this new culture’s philosophical positions stood in stark contrast to their own, especially in areas of women’s roles and sexuality. This really goes deeper then simply establishing a biblical role of any gender or appropriate expressions of sexuality. It seems to me, at the very root, to be an issue of authority and how we integrate authoritative teachings into our life. No doubt, the Bible expresses positions on social and moral issues. This isn’t the first time the Church has struggled with issues of cultural perspectives. Most of the Confessions and Creeds were in an effort to bring clarity to biblical teaching. Unfortunately, our denomination’s neglect and rejection of these Confessions and Creeds have left us in an informational vacuum. Perhaps we would be better served if we discussed how we live together in covenant rather then feeding our racial or philosophical egos. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), with our ethos of unity in diversity, is best suited to moderate this dialogue.

Jumping across to Build a Bridge

Last week, the Church remembered in her calendar the martyrdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor in Germany who was executed in a Nazi Concentration Camp for his involvement in a plot to assassinate Adolph Hitler. This week, the religious press is all abuzz about another critic of the Third Reich, Eugen (yes, spelled correctly) Rosenstock-Hussey. Born in Germany to Jewish parents, he was baptized at the age of 14. He became a professor of legal history and during the rise of Hitler, fled Germany to teach at Harvard University. According to author, Martin E. Marty, Rosenstock-Hussey was often criticized for being too Christian by other Harvard faculty. Aside from his passion for legal history and philosophy, Rosenstock-Hussey is best known for his Aphorisms. Quoted more than Voltaire in the Viking Book of Aphorisms, Rosenstock-Hussey is quite the witty one liner philosopher. Recently, a colleague celebrated one of his witticisms, “Any original thinker knows that he has to jump; later you can build bridges.”

Both in our personal lives and in the life of this congregation, we have had to jump. First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is famous for it’s jumping. It is a quality I greatly admire in the history of this congregation and one that I would celebrate in the development of our lives, this community and in service to the Kingdom. My only addition to the Aphorism would be, “When preparing to jump, remember, you’ll need a good spot on which to build a bridge.” It is a difference in perspective. For most, the only concern is “I” getting to the other side. As long as “I” can make it, everything will be fine. The Christian understands that sometimes one person has to take the risk, but that risk is always tempered by the responsibility of bringing others along. Moses didn’t just find a spot where he could cross the Red Sea, but knew that an entire nation was coming with him. You may have many opportunities to “jump” in your future, but remember, we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. This congregation will face some significant challenges in the year to come, primarily with our physical plant, roof issues, space concerns and the constant challenge of integrating our new members into the Church Family. There are times we may have to “jump.” Pray that each jump we make will be at a place where a bridge can easily be built.

“Any man who says he is ‘just’ something has ceased to live. How can he know what he will be tomorrow?” (Eugen Rosenstock-Hussey) [Pastor’s Note: The same would be true for women!]

Jordan's Stormy Banks made Calm

The stony path from the parking lot to the banks of the River Jordan is about five feet wide with cut branches tied together for flimsy handrails. It winds through an area of woods and grasses watered by underground springs, but were this year, very brown due to a lack of rain and dried up springs. Only forty years ago, the same area was filled with land mines as Jordan was trying to delineate its own borders with the United Nations newly created state of Israel. Fifteen hundred years ago, it was bustling with churches, monastic communities and vendors of holy relics as pilgrims made their way from Jericho to Bethany on a pilgrimage of the holiest sites in the area. Helena, Emperor Constantine’s mother, ordered and funded the building of churches at the various sites deemed sacred from their biblical importance. One could look off to the north and see the now vacant caves where for the centuries prior to Helena’s visit, hermits and ascetic Christians lived in devotion to our Lords baptismal site.

The Jordan is a meandering river, which means it changes course over the span of several centuries. It is now about 75 yards from the site where the first chapel was built on the banks of the river. A newly constructed Greek Orthodox Church now provides the shadow over the river where pilgrims and new believers are baptized. The Orthodox Church is the world’s oldest church, pre-dating the Roman Catholic Church (founded in the mid-fifth century by Pope Leo I) by almost four hundred years. Orthodoxy is also the largest Christian community in Jordan. At one point an Orthodox Christian shopkeeper embraced me and thanked us for coming to his country. When I told him we were not Orthodox, he looked at me and said, “But you know Jesus as your Savior.” “Yes,” I responded. “Then we are brothers,” he declared.

When we reached the River, our service began with eight from our group being immersed in the chilly, muddy waters of the Jordan. The narrow river that once was a mile wide now separates Israel and Jordan by about seven feet. On the west side, a vacant visitor’s center still flies the Israeli flag. With the recent archeological find that proves the Baptismal site is in Jordan, Israel has abandoned its claim of ownership. At one point during the baptisms, I looked up to see over fifty people from other tour groups gathered on the banks to witness the baptisms. One couple from another group was actually from Kentucky. How can we explain the power of God’s Spirit that day? Only this: At the end of our service of Baptism and Holy Communion, the Benediction was given and our Muslim Guide joined his voice with ours in the response, “Amen.”

Mary is pregnant...at the beginning of Easter?

Today is April 5, 2008 and there are exactly 264 Days until Christmas. The staff and I won’t be thinking about Christmas plans for another couple of months. However, this past Tuesday, April 1, 2008, many throughout the Church remembered a little known holiday, the Feast Day of the Annunciation. From April 1, 2007 there are exactly 268 days until Christmas or 38 weeks. Of course, that is the general length of the average pregnancy and if we celebrate our Lord’s birth on December 25, then Mary would have been with child on or about April 1.

It seems odd to be thinking about Christmas in the middle of the Easter Season, extending from Resurrection Sunday to the Day of Pentecost, but sometimes that is how God works. In the middle of something, when everyone else is focused on other things, God steps into our lives and says, “Will you do this for me?” “Everyone will think your crazy, you may be criticized for not ‘fitting in’ to what the world expects from you.” Thinking of the angel visiting Mary two weeks after our Easter celebration began seems odd. Yet, in the midst of our spring preparations, expectations of summer vacations and the church’s continued emphasis on the resurrection, God sends an angel to Mary and whispers, “Let’s get ready for Christmas, when I first gave my Son as a gift to the world.”

Always watch and listen for God. He may lead us and work with us in ways that outwardly seem out of step or the seemingly wrong focus at the wrong time. God’s timing is never wrong. God’s gift and God’s call are always, right on time.

The Resurrection: An Essential to Salvation

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 NKJV)

There are some passages of Scripture that seem to be so plain I can’t understand the problem. The resurrection of Christ is an essential. It is the essence of what distinguishes a Christian from everyone else who believes in Jesus. The Muslims believe in Jesus. They believe he was a great prophet. They believe he was rescued from the cross and never died. Many Jews believe in Jesus. Some even believe he was a decent teacher, although a bit too radical. They also believe he died and remains dead, just like everyone else, in their opinion. A Christian believes that Jesus “suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.” (The Apostle’s Creed) If you are not a big fan of creeds, please refer back to the first sentence where Scripture is referenced. Not a fan of the literal reading of Scripture, consider for a moment the Apostles who after having denied Jesus, became bold heralds of his resurrection, even to the point of their own martyrdom. Think they are crazy? Consider the Church for over 2,000 years, with other martyrs and the consistent and uncompromising teaching about Christ’s resurrection. Witness the power of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)’s ministry and faith as for 121 years this congregation has invited tens of thousands of people into relationship with God through Jesus Christ and thousands have responded, yes.

This Sunday is Resurrection Sunday, known by the world as Easter. Come and hear again the reasons to believe, experience the power of an empty tomb, join with brothers and sisters in Christ as together we proclaim: “Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!”

God's presence is not dependent on our feelings

Easter is in three weeks. Effectively, this Sunday’s emphasis will be the final emphasis on the themes of Lent. The next Sunday is Palm Sunday, which begins Holy Week, and culminates with the Feast Day of the Resurrection. By the way, the forecast for the weekend is possible snow showers. Out in our front yard, in the area where tulips would be starting to push up out of a warming ground during any other Lent/Easter season, still sits lifeless, bare and dark. A friend of mine remarked that it doesn’t really “feel like Easter.” Yet, when Sunday, March 23^rd rolls around, the sanctuary of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will be vested in white, with spring flowers and the trumpet sound of an empty tomb.

“Thanks be to God” that the power of resurrection, the presence of the Holy Spirit and the incarnational ministry of the Church are not dependent on our being ready or feelings of preparation. Actually, the fact that God comes to us, uses us for the advancement of the Gospel, heals, inspires and saves in the midst of our weaknesses is the essence of the Gospel. “For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger then human strength.” (I Corinthians 1:25)

God’s power and Word, whether it is the celebration of the Resurrection, the assurance of our salvation, the promise of healing or even God’s very existence, is not dependent on our feelings, desires, experiences or preparation. Ready or not, tulips or none, healthy or sick, snow or sun, the power of the resurrection is coming. In two weeks, the celebration of an empty tomb begins.

Hearts of fire, Minds of ice

In 949 A.D., a baby was born in Galatia, now part of modern day Turkey. This is the same Galatia to which St. Paul wrote his letter in the New Testament bearing the name of the city’s residents: Galatians. The young boy’s name was a common name, familiar to many of that day, much like John or Tom or Bob today. His name was Symeon or as it is often translated today in the United States, Simon. Simon was raised by his father to serve in the royal court, but at an early age began to study the faith under a Christian minister bearing the same name, Elder Simeon the Pious. Simon of Galatia studied for years and eventually left the royal court to become a member of a small community of Christian teachers. These communities eventually became what we today understand as monasteries. Simon of Galatia was not popular. He was very disturbed by what he saw as a loss of passion for Jesus Christ. For the past several hundred years, since the 700’s, the church had become more and more rational. The task of making the faith logical and seeking to understand the work and ministry of Christ within the scope of current Greek and Roman philosophy had robbed Christianity of much of its zeal.

Simon of Galatia began a personal campaign to return Christianity to its vitality of the early church. His famous quote was that ‘Christians should have hearts of fire and minds of ice.’ He was not opposed to the mental task of academic study in various areas of the faith, but mourned the loss of mystery and spiritual zeal for the cause of Christ. He lamented the lack of prayer, devotional Bible reading and the lack of interest for the poor. His call to restoration, spiritual passion and works in faith earned him banishment by the church officials of the day. He moved to the Bosphorus, near modern Istanbul where he died in 1021. In isolation, he became famous for his miraculous prayers. Many in that region believed that Simon’s prayers were very effective. Although he was viewed as a revolutionary in his day, his faithfulness ultimately earned him the title, “St. Symeon the New Theologian.” Little has changed in 1,000 years. We still swing back and forth between hearts of fire and minds of ice, looking for the balance of faith and understanding. In the midst of the debates, the searching and the great leaders of the Church, God continues to answer prayers for healing, direction and comfort.

Growing up in the wake of Dr. King

As the remembrance of the life and work of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. approaches, I realized that I am of the generation that was born after Dr. King’s death. At the same time, those in my generation grew up in the shadow of his life. What we were taught about issues of race and equality were in many ways a result of the efforts of Dr. King and his contemporaries. As I approach my 39th birthday, I am stunningly aware that Dr. King was assassinated at the age of 39. God used him to begin to change the heart of a nation. For those my age and younger, it might be helpful for us to learn about the man who had the dream.

Episcopal priest Gurdon Brewster recently completed his memoir, No Turning Back: My Summer with Daddy King. Brewster tells the story of his experience in the summer of 1961, when, as a young seminarian, he worked at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, home to Martin Luther King, Jr. and his extraordinary father, popularly known as “Daddy King.” Recalling the summer that changed his life, Brewster describes his first encounters with segregation, as well as his rediscovery of the true meaning of the gospel.

Another veteran of that struggle, Vincent Harding, a Mennonite and professor of religion, has published a timely assessment of King’s vision and its relevance for today. Martin Luther King: The Inconvenient Hero urges readers not to be content with the “safe” and domesticated hero most often identified with his stirring speech, “I Have a Dream.” Instead Harding invokes the increasingly radical message of King in his later years, as he took on the status quo at every level. Against the advice of his advisors, Dr. King expanded his message of global non-violence and widened his alliance with the cause of all poor and oppressed peoples. It was this vision that brought him to Memphis in 1968, where he paid the final price for his prophetic witness.