Worship Preview 1.25.26 "Lament and Laughter"

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY: 10:30am.“Lament and Laughter”  Scriptures: Psalm 126 and Colossians 3:1-17.  Rev. Christopher Eshelman preaching.

As we all watch the weather for how the incoming winter storm will affect us locally, I remind everyone of our weather policy. During the week, we follow the local school district. If Fort Scott schools close for weather, our office closes. Sunday is a bit harder. Generally we will not cancel for snow or cold but encourage everyone to be safe and use their best judgement. Pastor lives close to the church so if he can’t make it in, few others would try. We WILL cancel services if conditions are icy as the streets, slopes and steps become dangerous. For the latest, check our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/firstumcfortscott. We’ll also call the radio station and email everyone on our list.

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Presuming the storm will largely miss us, we will continue our series on the full range of human emotions. Scripture tells us Jesus wept (John 11:35). Scriptures tell of Jesus becoming angry – in particular when he turns over the moneychangers temples in a prophetic protest (Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-18, Luke 19:45-47, John 2:13-17) and again when he calls some religious leaders vipers and fools. (Matthew 23:33) He even becomes short with his own disciples “how long must I be with this faithless generation.” (Mark 9:19) but does Jesus laugh?  I believe he does. I believe we see the fullness of God in the person of Jesus (see John 14:9) and that God delights in creation, in us! But I cannot point to a specific verse that says “Jesus laughed.” I think that is unfortunate. The bible does talk about laughter a few times – but it is often in mocking tones. Abraham and Sarah both laugh when hearing that she will bear a child despite her age and barrenness. God is depicted as laughing at the corrupt.. but usually the Bible talks more generically of joy rather than the laughter of good times with good friends.  

Sometimes we get so serious, so rulebound, so caught up in all that is wrong that we forget to laugh. To engage in simple joys. I’ve been talking about Seasonal Affective Disorder and my own depressive tendencies around this time of year, especially after the lights of the holidays have been taken down but the days haven’t lengthened enough to really make a difference. Recognizing my own current struggles, A friend game me a book of by Yogi Berra, the great baseball catcher known for his sometimes confusingly contradictory wit – sayings like “Ninety percent of the game is half-mental” and “when you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Yogi did take things seriously, yet he did so with a lighthearted approach. Last week I shared extensively from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s final Sunday sermon and in reading about that event and the days leading up to his assassination in Memphis, I read numerous accounts of him laughing with his friends – even a “pillow fight” tossing pillows back and forth shortly before that fateful scene on the hotel balcony. Friends, colleagues and family described Dr. King as one who laughed often. I was reminded a seminary peer who is one of the people I think of when I think of Joy. Despite numerous challenges and setbacks, Justin was and is a person who radiates joy and hope. No amount of stress could overcome his ability to lighten our mood. I hear his advice to me to “lower my shoulders, the ground will hold you” often – and he’s right. I think these are examples of the way Jesus approached life and relationships. He was someone others liked to be around, even as he said challenging things. A charisma, a joy – and yes, laughter stemming from joy, not mockery. My seminary friend Justin introduced me to the art we’ll use on the bulletin this week. It’s a piece by Willis Wheatley, a Canadian artist that depicts Jesus in joyful laughter. Last week we talked of “singing a new song” and this week we’ll pair Wheatley’s painting with alternative words to “Be Thou My Vision” by Walter Farquharson, singing: Give to us laughter

as sign of deep joy; let us in laughing, find Christian employ, joining with stars and with bright northern lights, laughing and praising and sharing delights.

God knows what it is to be human and shares the full range of human emotions. No matter where you are on your faith journey, we invite you to experience the love and laughter of Christ, together with us at 10:30am each Sunday and explore your next steps! 301 S. National here in Fort Scott.  Find your path, share your journey!

UPCOMING EVENTS

FEEDING FAMILIES IN HIS NAME: Wednesday, January 28th - A free, no obligation meal is served “to-go” style from underneath our portico from 5:30-6:30pm each Wednesday, prepared each week by our members as well as several area churches and community groups. We aim to provide 400 meals per week. If you would like to support this ministry feeding our neighbors, you can make donations online at: www.firstumcfortscott.org/feedingfamiliesdonation. Thank you.