Nouwen’s believes that the words said to Jesus from heaven at his baptism are words said to all of us if we will listen and believe: “You are my beloved child. I am well pleased with you.” What we all need, Nouwen teaches, is a deep awareness that we are always God’s Beloved. How does anyone ever get the joy and peace we all want? We get it from knowing ourselves as God’s Beloved. Those who don’t know that they are Beloved run here and there looking for the imitation love of praise from others, power over others, and safety within the crowd. This is a compulsiveness that leads to death. The truth we need to claim for ourselves is that we are “loved long before our parents, teachers, spouses, children and friends loved or wounded us.”
The movement of the book is guided by these descriptions of what it means to be the beloved: Chosen, Blessed, Broken, and Given
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We are chosen, not in the sense that we deserve to be first on the team while other lesser talents are left out. We are chosen by the One who loves us with an everlasting love. That means I am more than a speck of humanity among millions. “Long before any human being saw us, we are seen by God’s loving eyes.”
Being chosen means, first, that I can reject the lies the world tells me that may demean me. I can know that I am the chosen child of God, even though I may not feel it right now. Second, being chosen also means that I will seek out the people and the places that remind me of the truth of my chosenness. Thirdly, I have to celebrate my chosenness by constantly saying “thank you” to God for choosing me.
Being blessed means that I am open to being affirmed by those who will say good things to me. To give a blessing to someone is more than giving them a word of praise or pointing out their talents. “To give a blessing is to affirm, to say “yes” to a person’s Belovedness.” A blessing is not telling a person how much you admire them. “A blessing touches the original goodness of the other and calls forth his or her Belovedness.” Here is an example of the kind of blessing Nouwen gave to people at L’Arche, the community of handicapped people and their caregivers. This one went to an assistant in the community, a 24 year old student. “John, it is so good that you are here. You are God’s Beloved Son. Your presence is a joy for all of us. When things are hard and live is burdensome, always remember hat you are loved with and everlasting love.”
“Broken” is Nouwen’s word about our sinfulness and our suffering. His example of his brokenness is his addiction to one person’s attentions and support. While he doesn’t go into any detail, he makes it clear that this one person was too important to him. He seems to have been trying to get all of his feeling s of being Beloved from one human being. The insight here is that God’s love flows through many human channels, and we make a huge mistake when we rely on one person for all of our security and feeling of being loved.
I find helpful Nouwen’s guidance that we put our brokenness under the blessing. This is a way of saying that we learn not to think of our brokenness as proof of some kind of curse. “The suffering I am going through is proof that the deep feeling I have of being no good is accurate. My brokenness proves it.” When we put our brokenness under the light of blessing we move toward full acceptance of ourselves as the Beloved. His examples of putting your brokenness under the blessing include
We are chosen, blessed, and broken not for our own sakes, but in order that we can be given. In the end, what brings us the greatest joy in life is being able to do something for another person. God’s love flows into us in order to flow on to others. All that we receive from being the Beloved is to be passed on.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
We Need Each Other
For most of my career as a pastor, I have known that community is life-giving to me. I’ve tried to be in small groups of pastors and church members for the last 38 years. Here at New Hope we are trying to develop more Sunday School classes and home groups, because we need each other. We are in this church to love God, love people, make disciples, and serve the world. We can ‘t do that alone. Maya Angelou wrote a poem called “Alone.”
Lying, thinking last night how to find my soul a home
Where water is not thirsty and bread loaf is not stone;
I came up with one thing, and I don’t think I’m wrong:
That nobody, but nobody can make it out here alone.
A couple of Sundays ago in a sermon, I talked about how four friends brought a paralyzed man to the feet of Jesus. They tore a hole in a roof and let him down on ropes. They were determined to get him to Jesus. Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven, and, when Jesus told him to, the man got up and walked. In that sermon I said, “We want to be the kind of church that brings people to the feet of Jesus so that they can be healed.” Like the four friends, let’s work together in love and help forgiveness and healing happen.
If you are not meeting on a regular basis with a few people every week or so, you are missing out on a major channel through which God’s love can flow into you. Find a class, find a group. Call me if you need help.
Lying, thinking last night how to find my soul a home
Where water is not thirsty and bread loaf is not stone;
I came up with one thing, and I don’t think I’m wrong:
That nobody, but nobody can make it out here alone.
A couple of Sundays ago in a sermon, I talked about how four friends brought a paralyzed man to the feet of Jesus. They tore a hole in a roof and let him down on ropes. They were determined to get him to Jesus. Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven, and, when Jesus told him to, the man got up and walked. In that sermon I said, “We want to be the kind of church that brings people to the feet of Jesus so that they can be healed.” Like the four friends, let’s work together in love and help forgiveness and healing happen.
If you are not meeting on a regular basis with a few people every week or so, you are missing out on a major channel through which God’s love can flow into you. Find a class, find a group. Call me if you need help.
Jesus' Journey
Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey, showing that he was there for reasons different from those of a ruler. Many threw their coats before him on the road. Others spread leafy palm branches. They shouted the Psalm of triumph. “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming.” They wanted to crown him king, but Jesus knew who he was. He did not need human acclaim. He rode on. As he moved through the week, tension built. Jesus was questioned about the resurrection. “God is not a God of the dead but of the living,” he said. “Love is the fulfillment of the commandments. Always be prepared. God comes unexpectedly. “
A woman anoints him for burial, and the drama moves toward Jesus’ death. They eat the Passover meal. He says the bread and wine symbolize his broken body and his shed blood. The weakness of his disciples becomes obvious. He has washes the feet of all his disciples including the feet of Judas. Jesus is betrayed. and arrested. His life is near its end, yet he loves no matter what is done to him. Peter tries to defend him at his arrest; Jesus demands that he put up his sword. He is forsaken, but he prays for those who leave him. He is mocked and tormented, but he cares about his tormentors. For those who nail him to the cross, he prays, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). When the crowd attacks him with angry, vile words Jesus does not attack in return. A dying thief reaches out to him in hope, and he responds with the promise, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
We stand in awe as we see what Jesus has done to show his love and pay the price to forgive us and give us life.
A woman anoints him for burial, and the drama moves toward Jesus’ death. They eat the Passover meal. He says the bread and wine symbolize his broken body and his shed blood. The weakness of his disciples becomes obvious. He has washes the feet of all his disciples including the feet of Judas. Jesus is betrayed. and arrested. His life is near its end, yet he loves no matter what is done to him. Peter tries to defend him at his arrest; Jesus demands that he put up his sword. He is forsaken, but he prays for those who leave him. He is mocked and tormented, but he cares about his tormentors. For those who nail him to the cross, he prays, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). When the crowd attacks him with angry, vile words Jesus does not attack in return. A dying thief reaches out to him in hope, and he responds with the promise, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
We stand in awe as we see what Jesus has done to show his love and pay the price to forgive us and give us life.
Sunday School
At New Hope we want to provide Bible study groups for all ages. That is why I am very happy that Ruth Bradley has become our Sunday School Director and Elaine Hardy has become our Sunday School Consultant. Ruth will be our leader and encourager of all Sunday School work. Elaine will be our guide.
What does a Sunday School Director do? Here are some "Responsibilities of the Sunday School Director" prepared by Elaine Hardy.
1. Lead in determining the S.S. organization needed and the best use of space
2. Plan for new units. (New classes or small groups)
3. Aid nominating committee in selection of workers
4. Determine training needs; develop a training plan
5. Lead teachers in setting reachable goals
6. Give direction to the selection of curriculum materials
7. Determine resources and budget needed for the S.S.
8. Represent the Sunday School on the Church Council
9. Lead in evaluating the work of the S.S.
10. Lead in setting realistic, challenging goals for increased attendance.
11. Use every opportunity for publicizing Sunday School and small groups
Sunday Morning Responsibilities
> Arrive on time and be visible.
> Greet visitors, escort them to class, and introduce them to the teacher.
> Insure that literature is delivered to the classes.
> Visit classes periodically to promote goals, special emphases, and outreach.
Somehow it is easy for us to forget that Sunday School is the growth arm of the church. It helps a church to grow spiritually and in numbers of members. As our church grows larger, we need more small groups – Bible study classes, Bible study groups, and support groups – to enable members to know and care for each other. You can’t form very deep relationships with people if you only sit beside them on a Sunday morning in worship. A Sunday School class on Sunday morning or a small group meeting during the week provides the opportunity to know and be known, to care and be cared for, to love and be loved. That is why I am very glad to have Ruth Bradley and Elaine Hardy giving us leadership and guidance as we develop life-changing Bible study classes and groups for all ages.
What does a Sunday School Director do? Here are some "Responsibilities of the Sunday School Director" prepared by Elaine Hardy.
1. Lead in determining the S.S. organization needed and the best use of space
2. Plan for new units. (New classes or small groups)
3. Aid nominating committee in selection of workers
4. Determine training needs; develop a training plan
5. Lead teachers in setting reachable goals
6. Give direction to the selection of curriculum materials
7. Determine resources and budget needed for the S.S.
8. Represent the Sunday School on the Church Council
9. Lead in evaluating the work of the S.S.
10. Lead in setting realistic, challenging goals for increased attendance.
11. Use every opportunity for publicizing Sunday School and small groups
Sunday Morning Responsibilities
> Arrive on time and be visible.
> Greet visitors, escort them to class, and introduce them to the teacher.
> Insure that literature is delivered to the classes.
> Visit classes periodically to promote goals, special emphases, and outreach.
Somehow it is easy for us to forget that Sunday School is the growth arm of the church. It helps a church to grow spiritually and in numbers of members. As our church grows larger, we need more small groups – Bible study classes, Bible study groups, and support groups – to enable members to know and care for each other. You can’t form very deep relationships with people if you only sit beside them on a Sunday morning in worship. A Sunday School class on Sunday morning or a small group meeting during the week provides the opportunity to know and be known, to care and be cared for, to love and be loved. That is why I am very glad to have Ruth Bradley and Elaine Hardy giving us leadership and guidance as we develop life-changing Bible study classes and groups for all ages.
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