Richmond First United Methodist News and Events
Pastor’s Perspective
Jesus through the Ages, Matthew 2:1-12
Pastor Dan Damon, Richmond 1st UMC, 1-3-16
Introduction
The poor and the simple, the wealthy and the wise came to see the baby Jesus, according to our stories in Luke and in Matthew. The Shepherds came from the nearby hills; the wise crossed the desert following a star. A new star in the heavens led the way through the wind and the sand, through the night and the day. Who was this child? Who is he now, to us, to you?
According to Hebrews 13:8-9, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to day and forever. That may be true in a theological sense, but every century of the Christian era has re-created Jesus according to its own character, collectively giving him kaleidoscopic variety. Our view of Jesus changes during our lifetimes, and through the ages. Jaroslav Pelikan addresses the slow developments in Jesus Through the Centuries, which examines the meaning of Jesus for culture and civilization in general.
His book is neither a biography of Jesus nor a history of Christianity as an institution. Instead, he believed that this study of the interpretations of Jesus throughout the Christian era would illuminate both the nature of Jesus and the mind of each century. He was concerned, however, that at any time, interpretations and understanding of Jesus could, and did, become too caught up in the moment. “There ought to be somebody who speaks to the other nineteen centuries,’’ he said in a 1983 interview with the Christian Science Monitor. ”I’m filing a minority report on behalf of the past.’’
In Jesus Through the Centuries, Pelikan maintains that, for every age, the person, sayings, and deeds of Jesus have represented an answer to fundamental questions about human life and destiny. According to Pelikan, those fundamental questions are best revealed through the artistic images prevalent in a given age. If Jesus is born in us today, how do we see Jesus? What kind of incarnation of the divine do we need in our post-modern world?
Images of Jesus
The book is based on a series of lectures delivered to a lay audience at Yale University, and in its eighteen chapters it presents a group of striking images of Jesus of Nazareth that have influenced Western culture far beyond theological circles. Jaroslav Pelikan’s thesis is that a key to the understanding of an age or an epoch is how it has depicted the Man from Galilee. Is he the incarnate Son of God of Augustine’s fifth century? Or is he the Great Teacher of the eighteenth century Enlightenment?
The early Church strove to clarify or define the nature of Jesus. With the rise of the Christian Empire in the fourth century, the description of Jesus as “Lord of lords and King of kings” (Revelation 17:14) became more popular.
As the Church has waned in cultural influence, the world has had more freedom to appropriate Jesus for its own purposes. Jesus becomes the Latin American revolutionary; the greatest businessman of all time; the icon of the American civil rights movement—in short, the Man for everyone. Jesus is no longer the captive of theologians, who had forced him to serve as captain of their holy wars even as his name was being used to justify splitting doctrinal hairs.
Pelikan’s insistence on the historicity of Jesus, that it is still possible for historians to recover at least some of the life of Jesus from the New Testament texts, leaves him with little patience, however, for those modern movements that would create a Jesus only tangentially related to the historical figure.
Is Jesus your Lord and Savior? If so, what do you mean by that? When I went through the ordination process, I was required to write a twenty-page paper on that topic. Every pastor understands these statements a bit differently.
There may be more universal and appealing images.
Jesus is the one who sets the captives free,
he is the Prince of Peace who overthrows nations,
he is the healer who came to seek and save those from afar.
If slaves are freed, if nonviolence and civil disobedience usher in a new era of civil rights, and if those in cultures far removed from the Christian West are touched with compassionate healing of body and mind—
these reflect the spirit of Jesus.
Leo Tolstoy, late in the nineteenth century, was so gripped by the simplicity of the words that in them he found a person’s sole duty in life. For Tolstoy, Matthew 5:39 must be literally obeyed: “Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Though Tolstoy was excommunicated from the Russian Orthodox Church for his radical views, others found in him a new prophet. Shortly before his death, Tolstoy wrote to one of his followers in South Africa, explaining that his philosophy of nonresistance “is essentially nothing other than the teachings of love undistorted by false interpretations. This law has been proclaimed by all the world’s sages. I think it has been expressed most clearly of all by Christ.”
The recipient of this letter was Mohandas K. Gandhi, martyred in 1948, whose spirit of nonviolence passed to Martin Luther King, Jr., in the United States, dead of an assassin’s bullet only twenty years later. Of those who have claimed to follow the true spirit of Jesus, Pelikan holds in highest regard those who have suffered for righteousness’ sake.
Application
What deserts have you crossed in your life so far? What have you suffered for righteousness sake? Suffering is not good in itself, but it is part of life. We have both joy and sorrow in this life. We imagine the next life as free from pain and sorrow, a time of eternal rest and rejoicing. In this life let us be willing to give of our time, talent, and treasure so that others may have a better life. Let us be willing to give sacrificially to the causes of justice and human rights. Let us not stand idly by while the winds of war and hatred sweep over the earth. Let us be willing to cross the desert in search of the child of Bethlehem, the Prince of Peace.
Let us be in prayer.
Joys and Concerns
Linda WoodyWood had hip replacement surgery on Wed., December 2. Update: Linda is doing well. Walking with a walker for stability but is pain free! She is staying with an aunt and uncle who need assistance to stay in their home because of aging issues. She is thankful for our prayers and good wishes and hopes to get back to church soon. Cards may be sent to Linda at 5584 Circle Drive, El Sobrante, CA 94803.
Pastor Dan had ankle surgery on November 19 and his cast will be removed next week!
Susan Wickesser, Doris Swope’s niece, has been cancer free for two years and living life to the fullest. She has just sent a message that new tumors have been found on her lungs. She has started chemotherapy. Please remember her in prayer for healing.
Our dear church friend, Pat King, is sending thanks for the warm wishes and prayers for her recovery.
Kathe Kiehn is asking for healing prayers for her daughter, Karen Gagnier. Karen has survived breast cancer once and is now facing treatment for a new aggressive cancer in her other breast. Karen is currently undergoing a 5-6 week course of chemo and once that is completed she’ll have a second round with different drugs. She is trying to live her life as normally as possible and your prayers are welcome.
Please keep Katherine Parker, our missionary, and the people of Nepal in your prayers.
Deby McFadyen is requesting prayers for two young friends who are battling cancer. Please remember Sarah Talkington and Jimmy Lowe in your prayers.
News
Memorial Service for Brent Westerveldt, Saturday, January 16, 2 pm. Brent died unexpectedly last October and his life will be celebrated by friends and family. All are welcome to attend.
Pastor Dan will be away January 19-21 at the Gathering of Orders. he will be playing piano for this event at the Mount Herman Conference Center.
Katherine Parker, missionary in Nepal: Update
The Blockade by Nepali dissidents near the Indian border is causing severe shortage of supplies, mainly fuel and medicines in Nepal. Many businesses have been shut down and hospitals will soon be running out of fuel to run their generators which means that surgeries and life saving incubators for babies will not be operational. The violence at the border has increased. Katherine is safe but electricity is dicey and life is harder. She is having to bathe in cold water and the team she is with are sharply curtailing driving. Hundreds of cars without fuel clog the streets of Katmandu. Winter is causing a crisis as is the loss of fuel for heating. Negotiations between the government and the dissidents is bogged down.
Katherine has sent pictures of the Christmas celebration she attended. Go to Facebook and “friend” her to see the photos.
Generosity
Parsonage Sewer Line: The parsonage sewer line is leaking and needs replacement. It’s a long line that connects to the main sewer below the Catholic Church. Estimated cost is $7,100. We will check with Tom Butt when he returns from Paris next week to see if the church would qualify for some funding from the city since it is a historic building. We are also asking our congregation for donations to help fund this project.
General Budget update: We are currently behind our projected budget by $5,252. End of year donations are welcome to close this gap.
We are continuing to move ahead with plans for the long-term financing of our church for generations to come through an Endowment program.
Remember your church in your Will and Living Trust.
Imagine No Malaria continues to need your donations.
Events
Finance Committee Meeting: It’s that time of year to plan the General Budget for 2016. The Finance Committee is meeting Saturday, January 9, 1:30 pm at Matthew and Jennifer Foster’s home, 1052 Hawthorne Dr., Rodeo, CA. Please let Fran Smith know if you plan to attend: 510 685 2338 or junosmith@aol.com.
Thursday, January 14, 7 pm, Administrative Board Meeting in Friendship Hall.
Friday, January 15, 7:30 pm Point Richmond Acoustic Presents Steve Seskin, Craig Caruthers and Don Henry,” Trading songs in the Round”. These are three of the best award winning singers and songwriters working in Nashville today. Tickets in advance $15, at the door $20. First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina St., Point Richmond. For advance tickets and more information about this program: pointacoustic.org.
Sunday, January 17 is Human Relations Day: This is the first “Special Sunday” always close to Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, giving you the opportunity by your donations to support the disenfranchised. Your gifts support programs for at risk teens, high risk pregnant women, those recovering from addictions and those recently released from prison.
Friday, January 22, 7:30 pm, Point Richmond Jazz presents Tarika Lewis. Tarika is from Oakland and is best known for her bluesy style and appearances with John Handy and his group “Class”. Tickets are $18 in advance (prjazz.org) and $25 at the door. First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina St., Point Richmond. Door opens at 7 pm.