Richmond First United Methodist News and Events
Pastor’s Perspective
Re: Richmond First United Methodist News and Events
Many Mansions, John 14:1-14
Pastor Dan Damon, Richmond 1st UMC, 5-18-14
Introduction
Where are the mansions Jesus is talking about in today’s gospel?
In heaven?
In Paris or Beverly Hills?
In Point Richmond?
In our hearts? I think there is a wisdom saying, “As without, so within.” Have you heard it?
[We may carefully joke about those who think they will be the only ones in heaven…]
Retell the Scripture Story
When we hear the stories of the Bible as children, we accept them at face value. We think literally at that age, and receive benefit from the hearing and reading of our Sunday School teachers. We sing songs like, “I’ve Got a Mansion just over the Hilltop…” or Somewhere in Outer Space God has Prepared a Place for those who trust him and obey…” We remember the songs and stories all our lives, but when difficult times come to us, and they come to us all, we begin to doubt, to question, to rebel. Some of us remain at that stage for the rest of our lives. We leave the church, never to return. But many of us learn to hear the stories of scripture and the songs of our childhood in a new way. We learn words like metaphor and simile. We learn abstract thought and begin to see that the way of God is like a drop of water in the ocean, or a mustard seed that grows into a tree large enough for all the different birds to build nests in it.
In the Gospel according to John chapter 14 Jesus speaks about going to prepare a place for us. He speaks about returning for us. He even says we know where he is going and the way to get there. This is before GPS and Siri were here to help us navigate.
Good old Thomas, using his logical mind, says on behalf of all of us, “We don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
This gives Jesus, according to John, the opportunity to say one of the greatest lines in his preaching career: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to God, but by me.” Of course this can be interpreted narrowly of broadly. In my childhood I was taught the narrow interpretation [The ONLY way, meaning only Christians will inhabit the heavenly mansions], but in seminary I learned to see this verse more broadly. All people of faith find and follow the Way of all ways to the mansion of the loving and compassionate heart. All people can learn to give love to others. Loving is a very natural thing, but loving can get interrupted by painful events in our lives. The good news is that we can always find the way back to loving ourselves, loving others, and doing some good in the world. Even on our deathbeds we can pray for others. We can forget ourselves, our fears, and our pain, as we love others through prayer. This kind of prayer is very powerful, indeed it is mystical in dimension.
Jesus then said, “If you have known me, you have known my Father.” This is the God within us. We can close our eyes to this reality. We can say there is no eternal love within our hearts, but we are deceiving ourselves if we say this. Love is real. It is eternal. We feel it now, do we not?
Philip said, “Show us the Father.” [We now use expansive metaphorical language for God that includes Mother imagery as well as Father, but in this passage in John we have a lot of Father language.] Imagine God for yourself using metaphors that work for you. This is part of understanding the “many mansions” image of John’s Jesus.
Jesus said to Philip, “Have you been with me for so long and you still don’t know? If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. I am in the Father and the Father is in me. The God who dwells in me speaks to you and does the works that you see. Believe in me, or at least believe in the works that you see.” Do you see any loving works around you today? Do you see lives being changed for the better? Do you feel any change in your heart as you listen to these words? Do you feel that God, Goddess, Goodness, or Love now dwell within you? Are you nurturing the very best that is within you?
Jesus said, “ You will do greater works than I have done. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it, because I go to the Father.” Wow! Greater than Jesus! Let us believe this, or at least act as if we believe it. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was told to preach faith until he had it. Then, because he had it, he would preach faith. Try it on yourself first. Then share your experience, strength, and hope with others.
Application
In my Father’s house are many mansions. If these are the mansions of the heart, what does your inner mansion look like today? Is it lovely and peaceful, surrounded by gardens, or is it more of a fixer-upper? Who is in charge of your mansion? Have you rented the space to a tenant who doesn’t care what happens in there? Maybe it is time for you to take stock and to make your inner mansion beautiful again.
This week Bill Thompson and I delivered food and diapers to a Mexican woman who lives in the Iron Triangle neighborhood of Richmond. She is caring for her young son who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheel chair. Her son attends Washington School. Someone at the school suggested she ask the Methodists for help. She called the church and the church responded. Thanks to your generosity there is still a Methodist church here in the Point. This little church is helping to bring clean water to people in Nepal through our missionary, Katherine Parker. [Google Katherine Parker Methodist and you will find her] We are caring for people in Iraq and the Philippines to name two more parts of our global parish.
The woman we met in the Iron Triangle this week also cares for her aging father at home. When she called me, she said we live in a house. When Bill and I arrived, she invited us in. She is worried that her water may be shut off. We did a little bit to help. Bill and I let her know we care. We may do more later on. We are working to change the unjust systems of society until all have what they need. Our basic human needs have to be met. This is real, but, wealthy or poor, we can have a beautiful inner life every day, if we cultivate it through prayer, meditation, study, and corporate worship. In my Father’s house are many mansions, Jesus said. What is the condition of your heart’s mansion today? Are you learning to trust what is within you?
Let us be in prayer.
Pastor Dan Damon, Richmond 1st UMC, 5-18-14
Introduction
Where are the mansions Jesus is talking about in today’s gospel?
In heaven?
In Paris or Beverly Hills?
In Point Richmond?
In our hearts? I think there is a wisdom saying, “As without, so within.” Have you heard it?
[We may carefully joke about those who think they will be the only ones in heaven…]
Retell the Scripture Story
When we hear the stories of the Bible as children, we accept them at face value. We think literally at that age, and receive benefit from the hearing and reading of our Sunday School teachers. We sing songs like, “I’ve Got a Mansion just over the Hilltop…” or Somewhere in Outer Space God has Prepared a Place for those who trust him and obey…” We remember the songs and stories all our lives, but when difficult times come to us, and they come to us all, we begin to doubt, to question, to rebel. Some of us remain at that stage for the rest of our lives. We leave the church, never to return. But many of us learn to hear the stories of scripture and the songs of our childhood in a new way. We learn words like metaphor and simile. We learn abstract thought and begin to see that the way of God is like a drop of water in the ocean, or a mustard seed that grows into a tree large enough for all the different birds to build nests in it.
In the Gospel according to John chapter 14 Jesus speaks about going to prepare a place for us. He speaks about returning for us. He even says we know where he is going and the way to get there. This is before GPS and Siri were here to help us navigate.
Good old Thomas, using his logical mind, says on behalf of all of us, “We don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
This gives Jesus, according to John, the opportunity to say one of the greatest lines in his preaching career: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to God, but by me.” Of course this can be interpreted narrowly of broadly. In my childhood I was taught the narrow interpretation [The ONLY way, meaning only Christians will inhabit the heavenly mansions], but in seminary I learned to see this verse more broadly. All people of faith find and follow the Way of all ways to the mansion of the loving and compassionate heart. All people can learn to give love to others. Loving is a very natural thing, but loving can get interrupted by painful events in our lives. The good news is that we can always find the way back to loving ourselves, loving others, and doing some good in the world. Even on our deathbeds we can pray for others. We can forget ourselves, our fears, and our pain, as we love others through prayer. This kind of prayer is very powerful, indeed it is mystical in dimension.
Jesus then said, “If you have known me, you have known my Father.” This is the God within us. We can close our eyes to this reality. We can say there is no eternal love within our hearts, but we are deceiving ourselves if we say this. Love is real. It is eternal. We feel it now, do we not?
Philip said, “Show us the Father.” [We now use expansive metaphorical language for God that includes Mother imagery as well as Father, but in this passage in John we have a lot of Father language.] Imagine God for yourself using metaphors that work for you. This is part of understanding the “many mansions” image of John’s Jesus.
Jesus said to Philip, “Have you been with me for so long and you still don’t know? If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. I am in the Father and the Father is in me. The God who dwells in me speaks to you and does the works that you see. Believe in me, or at least believe in the works that you see.” Do you see any loving works around you today? Do you see lives being changed for the better? Do you feel any change in your heart as you listen to these words? Do you feel that God, Goddess, Goodness, or Love now dwell within you? Are you nurturing the very best that is within you?
Jesus said, “ You will do greater works than I have done. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it, because I go to the Father.” Wow! Greater than Jesus! Let us believe this, or at least act as if we believe it. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was told to preach faith until he had it. Then, because he had it, he would preach faith. Try it on yourself first. Then share your experience, strength, and hope with others.
Application
In my Father’s house are many mansions. If these are the mansions of the heart, what does your inner mansion look like today? Is it lovely and peaceful, surrounded by gardens, or is it more of a fixer-upper? Who is in charge of your mansion? Have you rented the space to a tenant who doesn’t care what happens in there? Maybe it is time for you to take stock and to make your inner mansion beautiful again.
This week Bill Thompson and I delivered food and diapers to a Mexican woman who lives in the Iron Triangle neighborhood of Richmond. She is caring for her young son who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheel chair. Her son attends Washington School. Someone at the school suggested she ask the Methodists for help. She called the church and the church responded. Thanks to your generosity there is still a Methodist church here in the Point. This little church is helping to bring clean water to people in Nepal through our missionary, Katherine Parker. [Google Katherine Parker Methodist and you will find her] We are caring for people in Iraq and the Philippines to name two more parts of our global parish.
The woman we met in the Iron Triangle this week also cares for her aging father at home. When she called me, she said we live in a house. When Bill and I arrived, she invited us in. She is worried that her water may be shut off. We did a little bit to help. Bill and I let her know we care. We may do more later on. We are working to change the unjust systems of society until all have what they need. Our basic human needs have to be met. This is real, but, wealthy or poor, we can have a beautiful inner life every day, if we cultivate it through prayer, meditation, study, and corporate worship. In my Father’s house are many mansions, Jesus said. What is the condition of your heart’s mansion today? Are you learning to trust what is within you?
Let us be in prayer.
Richmond First United Methodist News and EventsRichmond First United Methodist News and EventsRichmond First United Methodist NewFirst United Methodist News and
Joys and Concerns
Lauren McLeod welcomes your prayers for healing.
Deby McFadyen is asking for prayers for her father, Jack McFadyen, who has lung cancer and will be starting chemotherapy next week. 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 son.
We offer prayers for Deby as she cares for her father in this difficult time.
Our friend, Arinel Greene, from Easter Hill UMC, is being treated with chemo/radiation for uterine cancer. She is a woman of great faith and welcomes being on our prayer list for healing. If you would like to send her a card: 5326 Conestoga Way, El Sobrante, CA 94803.Please remember her in your prayers.
Pat Dornan and Linda Pereira continue to need your prayers of support and healing.
Robbie Robinson would appreciate your prayers.
News
UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) continues to work in the Philippines six months after Typhoon Haiyan devastated the city of Tanuan. They are building 200 permanent homes for the families of the region.
Mid Dornan and Barbara Haley attended the 40th Anniversary Celebration at the Richmond Childhood Mental Health Program on Friday,
May 16. We had a private tour of the facility and listened to speeches about the program’s history and dreams for the future. This is a remarkable program. Remember we donate disposable diapers for families who can’t afford them. You can bring diapers anytime and leave them in Friendship Hall.
Camp Liberty Update: Iran’s judiciary chief is urging his Iraqi counterpart to extradite the residents of Camp Liberty (3000 people) to Iran for a “fair trial”. Iran is saying they will pardon 423 people after investigation showed they are not guilty of any crimes. In April of this year Iran and Irag signed an understanding which includes the extradition of criminals. This is a serious and life threatening request. Please contact your representatives for intervention: President Obama, 202 456 1414, Vice President Biden, 202 456 1414, Senator Barbara Boxer, 202 224 3553, Senator Diane Feinstein, 202 224 3841, Representative George Miller, 202 225 2095.
The Administrative Board has approved the project to repair the church windows beginning after Junktique II.
Our missionary, Katherine Parker in Nepal, has sent an update on her activities. On a personal level, she is moving into an apartment of her own. Katherine is working as a health advisor in rural Nepal where she works with communities through improving water sanitation, hygiene, food security and nutrition. She has a blog (bokashi.blogspot.com) where you can find information on her recent adolescent sex education class. Donating to support Katherine’s work makes you a partner in improving the quality of life for the less advantaged. Copies of her letter are in Friendship Hall.
A Study and Survey of the Worldwide Nature of the United Methodist Church will be presented by Pastor Dan Damon and Jean Reynolds for four Sundays, May 18 through June 8 during Adult Sunday School 10 am in Friendship Hall. Anyone interested in joining the church is encouraged to come and all are welcome. Recommendations from the class will be presented at General Conference 2016. Weekly topics in order: 1. General Conference, Jurisdictions, and Central Conferences.2. The Book of Discipline.3.Boards, Agencies and Finances. 4. Education of Clergy and Laity. This is an opportunity to have input into proposals and changes
Junktique was a full and prosperous day! We can’t thank Betty Graham, Fran Smith and the heavy lifting crew led by Jonathan Swett enough for the hours of work and of organizing the help to make this a successful day! Norm Reynolds reports that we made over $8,000 which helps to cover the costs in our General Budget.
Generosity
The Administrative Board met Thursday evening, May 8 We are having difficulty meeting our projected costs in the General Budget and have added a column called “How are we doing?” to keep you informed. Our General Fund receipts to date are $31,180. Our budget need is $35,252 which is a $4000 deficit. We count on your generosity to keep us funded and if you haven’t increased your giving, perhaps you would give it consideration. Junktique earnings met our budgeted expectation and Junktique II will add some funds to help with the deficit.
Events
Junktique II will be coming up Monday, May 26 in conjunction with the Masquers Playhouse annual Point Richmond garage sale and fund raiser. Let Fran Smith or Betty Graham know if you would like to help. Fran: junosmith@aol.com: Betty: BettyGraeham @gmail.com. We will have a pancake breakfast starting at 8 am. The sale will be from 9 am to 3 pm, Bring the kids to see our “Ladybug: gardener!
Friday, May 30-PRJazz Presents Kit Eakle with Django Sphere 7:30 pm at the First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina, Point Richmond. This is the last concert of the season. For tickets, a list of next season’s presenters and special ticket pricing go to prjazz.org. This concert is an exploration of the music of Django Reinhardt and Thelonius Sphere Monk. Kit Eakle, violin, Jonathan Alford, piano and Alex Baum, bass. Tickets through prjazz.org $15, at door, $20.
Father’s Day Jazz Service, Sunday, June 15, 11am. The Dan Damon Quartet will present the service with music. Kurt Ribak, bass: Lincoln Adler, sax; Randy O’dell, drums;Dan Damon, piano. Come early to be sure to get a seat.
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.
Registration is open. Lake Tahoe, Zephyr Point Retreat Center. For more info and to register: wmjm.org.
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