Worship Preview 7.26.26 "Power and Glory"

FIRST UNITED METHODIST

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY: 10:30am. “Power and Glory”  Rev. Christopher Eshelman preaching. Scriptures: Psalm 24, 2 Corinthians 11:30-12:10, 1 Peter 1:3-25

We’ve been exploring the doxology to the Lord’s Prayer. “For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever. Amen!” I agree with Theologian Helmut Thielicke’s insight that “the closing words of the Lord’s Prayer are not an assumption which we must have accepted in order to be able to pray, but rather the final conclusion to which our repeated use of the Prayer has driven us.”

Last week we talked a little about power and we read from Paul’s letter to the Philippians – focusing on the beautiful hymn in chapter 2 about Jesus setting aside his divinity and becoming human – even to the point of death on a cross. Jesus demonstrates God’s love and compassion. Jesus walks with us and shows us the way. In Chapter 3 of Philippians, Paul then emulates that, saying that all the things he might regard as gains – his birthplace, rituals, education, status – are all to be regarded as loss, paling in the light of knowing Christ. Indeed, it may be that the things we use to claim power and glory for ourselves become obstacles to encountering Christ. This week we will continue those thoughts with readings from 2^nd Corinthians and 1 Peter We’ll hear Paul again talking about place and privilege. There is a somewhat confusing talk of “a man” who had a vision of the “3^rd Heaven”, and then a much more relatable, but still mysterious passage about a “thorn in the side.” Christ tells Paul that “my power is made perfect in weakness.” Then the reading from 1^st Peter connects God’s power and glory directly to incarnation and resurrection. We are called to be holy because God is holy – and to recognize that without God’s grace, humans are “like grass” that withers.

Contrast that with those who use God’s name to claim power and glory for themselves and to control and even dehumanize others. We see it in various forms of nationalism and in various forms of religion. The American Monk Thomas Merton talked about it this way: "It is easier to serve the hate-gods because they thrive on the worship of collective fanaticism. To serve the hate-gods, one has only to be blinded by collective passion. To serve the God of Love one must be free, one must face the terrible responsibility of the decision to love in spite of all unworthiness whether in oneself or in one's neighbor."

Our call to worship will come from Psalm 24, which begins “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” As I said last week. God intends us. God claims us. God knows us. God, who is love, loves us – and grants us freedom that we might enter into true relationship, recognizing God’s power and glory. Author C. Clifton Black writes “We praise God that all these properties belong to him. At the same time we express gratitude that we may pray to God in the way the Prayer guides us. We assert trust that God hears and binds himself to us as we knit ourselves to God by so praying we affirm hope that all of this prayers petitions may be fulfilled, both now and in the age to come. Exhalation, thanksgiving, faith and hope blend and resolve themselves into adoration. All we truly want to ask for ourselves from God is God and the grace to do his will.”

If the world has you down. If you can’t make sense of what is happening. If you need a shot of hope – and if you’d like to see a different way emerge, we’d love to have you join in worship. We don’t have all the answers. We aren’t perfect and we won’t dictate your choices. But together we keep finding that God makes a way – and that all our stories matter. So, come just as you are – with your doubts and questions, with your laments and fears, and with your deepest hopes and joys. Whether you are a longtime member, have never been to church at all, or find yourself needing a change - together we will find our paths and share our journeys. Thanks be to God!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

ICE CREAM SOCIAL: 6pm, Sunday, July 26^th in Fellowship Hall. Come share a cool time of fellowship and tasty treats with the people of First United Methodist!

FEEDING FAMILIES IN HIS NAME: Wednesday, July 29 - A free, no obligation meal is served “to-go” style from underneath our portico from 5:15pm to 6:15pm 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.