Ever wondered what Manna was, and why the Children of Israel puzzled about it? How did it sustain them throughout their many years in the Wilderness?
Guest Minister, Rev. Julie Conaron
We will meditate on this and other topics during this Easter Season worship service. Join us on Zoom at 10:30 am, for Fellowship and 11:00 am, for Worship. Zoom link will be provided to church members and their contacts. Please let us know if you’d like the link if you’re not currently connected to the church.
If you missed last Sunday’s sermon with Rev. Dr. Sherrie Connelly, you can watch it here:
Please join us for a Zoom church service with Rev. Dr. Sherrie Connelly this Sunday, March 12, 2023. Fellowship begins at 10:30 am; Worship Service at 11:00 am. The title of her service is “God’s Well of Living Water.” Remember to “Spring Forward” and set your clocks an hour ahead! (Zoom link will be provided to church members and their contacts.)
Enjoy this video of Guest Minister, Rev. Catherine Lauber’s singing crystal bowl meditation from February 26th, to start your pre-Easter contemplation.
Lockland High School is doing a popcorn fundraiser to raise money for their students to be able to afford, and attend a great Prom. One of our members, Shannon Fischer is a teacher at Lockland, and this year’s Prom Chair!
This fundraiser lasts a limited time 2/21-2/25, so order your delicious popcorn flavors now! You can have them shipped anywhere in the US, or to US Military Personnel in the Americas, Europe or the Pacific!
Click and Share this LINK for the kids to have a poppin’ good time!
Currently Lockland prom ticket prices are $25 a “pop” (a good price considering most local school proms are $60+ a student.) However, some kids are still not able to afford tickets at this rate. The more money that is raised, the lower tickets can become.
Share or support this “Double Good” fundraiser, today! Shannon and her students say “Thanks!” https://s.dgpopup.com/25cpfr10
Feeling salty about popcorn? Send a donation to the church with “popcorn” in the check memo, or contact us for Venmo directions.
Please join us over Zoom, this Sunday, February 26, 2023. Rev. Catherine Lauber of Ontario, will be our Visiting Minister. She will perform “A Lenten Sound Meditation for Self-Reflection,” using crystal singing bowls. Readings will be from Genesis 2 and 3.
On this first Sunday of Lent, we are invited to reflect on the Repentance stage of Regeneration. Repentance requires self-examination. Rev. Catherine Lauber will be guiding us through a sound meditation based on verses from Genesis as we experience the inner sense of scripture as a guide for self-examination of our own temptations.
Fellowship begins at 10:30 am, Worship at 11:00 am. Zoom link is provided to church members and their contacts or available upon request by emailing the church.
February 21, 1965: In New York City, Malcolm X, (later known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz) an African American nationalist and religious leader, is assassinated while addressing his Organization of Afro-American Unity at the Audubon Ballroom in Washington Heights. He was 39.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/malcolm-x-assassinated
Malcolm X is frequently differentiated from fellow civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. in his stance on non-violence. What sometimes is misconstrued however, is that Malcolm X did not advocate for the fomenting of violence, but instead in fighting back against anyone perpetrating violence upon African Americans.
What to do with this differentiation? Consider what Swedenborgian Minister, Rev. Lee Woofenden cites on his website. Swedenborg does not believe in not making wars for the sake of glory or vanity, but states, “that the nature of good is to defend;” even the angels are constantly coming to our defense.
https://leewoof.org/2018/11/22/war-military-service-violence-and-self-defense-whats-a-christian-to-do/
How Hard Is It to Choose Life?
Pastor Dave Fekete, Ph.D. — Edmonton, Church of the Holy City
February 12, 2023
Readings: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Matthew 5:21-37 Psalm 119:1-8
This sermon grew out of frustration—no, not frustration, exasperation. Although it grew out of exasperation, I won’t be lingering in exasperation in it. I’m going to use my experiences as a springboard to launch into theological reflection that I think we all can benefit from, myself, included, of course.
My ministry takes many forms. Foremost, it is here in the Edmonton Church of the Holy City. But since I am known in Edmonton, as a Pastor, people sometimes, well often, turn to me for Pastoral Care who aren’t members of this Church. And since my call came from God, not from a specific organization, I answer the call to ministry whenever it comes, from whomever calls me into ministry.
I’ve realized that there are two types of people who come to me: people who want Pastoral Care, and people who do not want Pastoral Care. Yet both types come to me and ask for Pastoring. My task is to determine which are the ones who really do want Pastoring, and the ones who don’t. Unfortunately for me, the only way I can determine this is when I enter into the Pastoral role. And I do so whenever anyone, anywhere reaches out for help.
This sounds funny, doesn’t it. You may wonder, “Why would someone ask for help who doesn’t really want it?” I, myself, didn’t know that such people existed until experience taught me otherwise. In fact, it’s very common.
Let’s consider our story from Matthew. In our Matthew story, a good Jewish church-goer is on his or her way to the temple to offer God a gift. Of course, Jews would not be called church-goers, technically, because they went to temple or synagogue. But the idea is the same. So our good churchgoer is on their way to observe religion in the way that they know. But what’s wrong with this picture?
Our good churchgoer is involved in anger with someone, with insulting them, and with dehumanizing another human. And someone has a beef against them. And yet, they are on their way to church. What’s wrong with this picture?
Isn’t love the whole point of church? “They’ll know we are Christians by our love,” the song goes. It’s what makes a person a follower of Jesus,
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”
(John 13:35)
So what does this good Jewish churchgoer think that they are doing bringing a gift to God at the Temple, with a heart burning with anger? What’s he or she doing? The prophets are full of verses from God saying that God does not want sacrifices, anyway. Sometimes, God’s language is sharp, in fact harsh. God says it all in no uncertain terms in the very first chapter of Isaiah:
Hear the word of the Lord,
you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the teaching of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!
11 What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
says the Lord;
I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls
or of lambs or of goats.
12 When you come to appear before me,
who asked this from your hand?
Trample my courts no more!
13 Bringing offerings is futile;
incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and Sabbath and calling of convocation—
I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.
14 Your new moons and your appointed festivals
my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you stretch out your hands,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove your evil deeds
from before my eyes;
cease to do evil;
17 learn to do good;
seek justice;
rescue the oppressed;
defend the orphan;
plead for the widow.
We tend to want the easier, softer way, don’t we? We want people to fix us without us doing any of the legwork, ourselves. And so, rather than removing the rage in his or her own heart, the good church-going Jew thinks she or he can go through the church rituals and be all right with God.
But let’s get back to the two types of people who ask me to be their Pastor. Let’s talk about the ones who mean it. I have a friend who self-identifies as a non-believer. Yet he shows me more respect on account of my profession than a whole, whole lot of others do. One afternoon he asked if he and his son could come to my apartment for a visit. He had just experienced a personal tragedy he couldn’t cope with. He wanted someone’s help and he knew that I’m a Pastor. When he and his son came over, he meant it. He’s doing great, now, about a year later; he’s going to make it. He listened to me when he asked me questions point blank and I answered him point-blank. He appreciated that. The few words I spoke when he asked took root in his soul’s soil and he nurtured them and they grew into healing herbs. That, and I sat with him.
Then there’s the other type. And I’m not going to spend much time talking about them. It’s not their fault. Have you ever heard the saying, “Be careful what you ask for, you might get it?” That’s these guys. They don’t know what they’re asking for. They ask me for help, and then they tell me what it is they want me to do, how I’m supposed to help them. They do! That’s how clueless they are. Then, when I really do start to help them, because I do have the capacity to see where they need help, they start resisting and throwing up roadblocks and making excuses why they can’t do things that will heal them.
Please allow me a moment to clarify. When I took ski lessons, my ski teacher watched me and he could see the issues I had with skiing, and he knew how to assist me with them. It’s like that with Pastoral Care. I once told a friend that I was going to interview Grandmaster Chen. My friend said that they would want to know about the role of awareness and consciousness, and gender. Then, my friend would want to know about physical limitations due to age, injuries, other-ambled, PTSD, addiction, peace, and non-violence, and all the conditions people live with. Do you see what my friend was doing? My friend was telling Grandmaster Chen what they, themself, knew, and basically telling Grandmaster Chen what they wanted him to know. Let me spell out what I mean, for a minute. What if awareness and consciousness isn’t in Taoism and Taiji? What if peace and non-violence aren’t things Grandmaster Chen thinks about or teaches? And does Taiji have anything to do with addiction or PTSD at all? You don’t tell a teacher what they are supposed to teach you. You ask a teacher, “What do I need to know?”
In fact, in my very first interview with Grandmaster Chen, I fully admitted that I was in an awkward position. I was interviewing someone about a subject that I knew nothing about. He just said, “Let’s see how it goes.” Once, I went in and said, “I don’t think today’s interview will take very long. I only need clarification on a couple points and ideas.” He said, “We’ll see.” In fact, our interviews are going very well—I would estimate we’ve had about 15. I wrote one up in article form and Grandmaster Chen posted it on his international web page. I am in the process of writing up a second article.
So God says,
“I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life!”
(Deuteronomy 30:19)
When you put it that way, it’s hard to understand. Who wouldn’t want blessings?! Who wouldn’t choose life over death?! The sad fact is, when sickness is all you know, and when a person is sunk in sickness they can’t see what health looks like from that vantage point. People don’t want to let go of all that they know. The sad fact is, sickness feels good. It isn’t good, but it feels good. (When I lust, I enjoy it. Didn’t I think that I was having the time of my life getting drunk night after night, and partying in bars, and what did all those teetotalers think they were doing sober???) And so, sick people throw up roadblocks, and make excuses, and resist anything other than what they know, what they’re used to. It’s what Jesus experienced on Earth, and made Him say,
How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks
(Luke 13:34-35)
under her wings, and you were not willing. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate
And usually, it goes on and on and on like that until the sick person can’t take it any longer. Then they really do want help. And I’ll be there when they’re at that point. So will a lot of people.
I expect most of us are somewhere on this spectrum. Some of us knew when we needed help; we asked for it, and meant it; and we got it. And then, sure, we all have our blind spots. The psychologist Carl Jung talks about our Shadow that we try to hide—hide from others so they won’t see our character defects. But especially we hide the Shadow from ourselves because we don’t want to see embarrassing deficiencies in our character. But if we are on The Path, we’ll come to. If we’ve learned the skill of self-examination and self-amendment, we’ll apply it in our ongoing spiritual growth.
“Whoever has will be given more”
(Mark 4:25)
We will be given more, if we keep seeking—abundance, overflowing. So when God says, “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life!” Let’s choose life!
PRAYER
Lord, here us when we call to you, and when we call, come. Lord, we can’t do this by ourselves. Lord, we need your help. Lord, here us when we call to you. And when we call, come. Lord, in our head, we know that you do hear us, that you hear us, always. We say these words for us, for our own conscious contact with you, Lord. And, Lord, when we say, “Come, Lord,” we mean for us to come to you. Bring us to you, Lord. Bring us upward into the light. Lift us up out of the bondage of self, that our works may bear witness to you.
And Lord, we are tempted to be distracted by the cries of tribe and clan. Our culture is at risk to
dissolve into factions, and for neighbor to oppose neighbor in the name of competing truth claims. Help us to see that we are all your children. You are the Parent of all of us, and we are one spiritual family. Help us to understand one another in difference, and reach out to each other in the spirit of Christian love.
And Lord, we ask you to watch over those who are ailing in body or soul. Comfort them and their families. And, Lord, we ask for you to bring your healing to our loved ones, families, and friends. And, Lord, we pray that you bring the gift of your healing power to all who are suffering, whether it be in body or soul.
Please join us this Sunday, via zoom, as we welcome Rev. Dr. David Fekete of Edmonton, CA, as our Guest Minister. Pastor David Fekete, Ph.D. is 1/3-time Pastor of the Edmonton Church of the Holy City. He is a seeker of love and wisdom in all its manifestations, sources and places.
Sermon Title: “How Hard Is It to Choose Life?”
In my ministry, in all its capacities, I am growing increasingly surprised to discover how often people don’t want help who ask for it. ~Rev. Dr. David Fekete
Fellowship begins at 10:30 am; Worship at 11:00 am. Zoom link is provided to church members and their contacts.
I would like everyone to just take a moment to relax and get centered. Close your eyes and open yourselves to the Great Spirit, the Divine, God, or whatever you want to call you higher power. Let us take a deep breath in through the nose. Hold it. Exhale through your mouth. As you do so, release any toxins and negativity, cleansing your body. Take another breath in through your nose. Hold it. Then feel your body relax as you exhale through your mouth.
Did you know there is an element/gas in the air or oxygen that we just breathed in that is called argon? It is an inert element, which means that it doesn’t interact with anything else. It stays just as it is. This argon stays in the air forever. It floats around through space and time. All over the world. We breathe this stuff in over and over. We breath in each other’s particles of argon. Over and over. All through time. That means our grandparents, our great grandparents, and so on, have all breathed the same argon. We are literally breathing the breath of our ancestors. It connects us, still. We could be breathing in argon that dinosaurs have breathed.
We are living in this vast sea of Divine Life Force, and we breathe it in and out of us, every single
moment of our lives, until we transition from this world to the next. It connects us to each
other and to all the living creatures plant and animal.
Swedenborg says that air corresponds to all things of perception and thought, thus of
our faith. Our respiration corresponds to the understanding and thus to perception, thought, and
faith. Everyone in the spirit world breathes according to his/her faith.
We are surrounded and immersed, in the infinite living Divine breath. It is our influx
from God, that teaches us and loves us, constantly. Even evil people are immersed within it. It is
only a choice to reciprocate this unconditional love and wisdom or turn away from it. It is
always there for us, waiting and still giving us life, no matter what we choose. Some indigenous
people consider the air to be very sacred, as is all of nature. You can feel, hear, and smell the
air. It is spirit as well as life. It envelopes, embraces, and caresses us. Yet it is completely
invisible. It slips into our mouths, down our throats, filling our lungs, feeding our blood and our
hearts. Without it, we cannot act, speak, or think. The sacred breath is not just for humans
either. It animates and sustains the whole created world. Like the wind itself, the breath of God
infuses all of nature.
What the plants are quietly breathing out, we animals are breathing in; what we
The Spell of the Sensuous, by David Abram
breathe out, the plants are breathing in. The air, we might say, is the soul of the visible
landscape, the secret realm from whence all beings draw their nourishment. As the very
mystery of the living present.
The Hebrew language is one of the oldest languages there is. They have one word that is
used for both “spirit” and “wind”, ruach. In the Hebrew bible, this word, ruach, is used to
describe part of the creation of the world.
When God began to create heaven and earth – the earth being unformed and void,
with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind (ruach) from God sweeping over the water…
The spirit of God sweeping over the water, giving life. And later, God breathes life into
Adam’s nostrils. The Hebrew word that is used in this verse is neshamah, which stands for both
the breath and the soul.
The breath is very important in the Jewish mystical tradition. They believe that the
relationship between humans and God is best realized through the breath and breath work. It is
believed that King Solomon could lift nature’s physical veil from created things and see the
spirit within, by practicing breathing techniques that he learned from his father, King David. By
practicing these techniques King Solomon could invoke the holy breath, the inspiration of the
divine.
If prayer is pure and untainted, surely that holy breath that rises from your lips will
A 19th century Hasidic master
join with the breath of heaven that is always flowing into you from above. Thus, that part of God which is within you is reunited with its source.
This is why so many meditation practices involve focusing on your breath and breathing.
It physically relaxes the body and helps the mind to clear and focus, but it also helps to connect
one with the Divine.
In the Jewish tradition, God’s name was considered unspeakable. The word is Yahweh.
They would substitute that name with words like Elohim or Adonai, when they spoke or wrote
of it. They also didn’t use vowels, only the consonants. It’s original spelling is YHVH The name of
God was to be “breathed” when spoken. Consonants use mostly your teeth, tongue, and lips,
whereas vowels are breathier. For the Jewish community, you would have to engage in the act
of breathing to pronounce the name Yahweh. It is believed that the correct pronunciation is
meant to imitate the sound of inhalation and exhalation. The vowels were deliberately left out,
because of the sacredness and so as not to speak the Lord’s name in vain.
Swedenborg states that the vowels stand for the sound and in the sound, there is the
affection. The sound of angels’ speech is responsive to their affection, and the articulations of the sound, or the words, correspond to the individual ideas that stem from their affection.Vowels do not belong to the language but to a raising of its words, by means of sounds,
Heaven and Hell, # 241
toward various affections according to the state of each individual. So, in Hebrew the vowels are not written and are also pronounced variously. This enables angels to recognize what someone’s quality is in respect to affection and love.
Breathing is vital to our biological as well as to our spiritual lives. God breathes life into
the nostrils of humankind. The Spirit is the “breath of God” the animating force that fills our
lungs, and Jesus, breathes on the twelve disciples, as he sends them into the world, as a ritual
to symbolize the presence of the Spirit with and in them. With every breath we take, we are
speaking the name of God. It is the first word we speak when we are born, and last word we
speak at the end of our life.
Amen
Benediction
May God’s Spirit surround you,
and those whom you love.
Rest now, in that calm embrace.
Let your hearts be warmed
And all storms be stilled
By the whisper of His voice.
Amen
New Church of Montgomery, in Glendale 