UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST in SIMI VALLEY
Twenty-fourth Sunday After Pentecost - November 23, 2003
Thanksgiving Sunday * Stewardship Sunday
Anne G. Cohen
2 Samuel 23:1-7

For Our Reflection:

It usually happens that the more faithfully a person follows the
inspirations s/he receives, the more does s/he experience new
inspirations which ask increasingly more of her/him.
- Joseph de Guibert, Theology of the Spiritual Life (1953)

No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he only had good
intentions.  He had money as well.
- Margaret Thatcher, English Politician (1923-  )


Famous Last Words

Famous Last Words of King David, New Revised Standard Version:

One who rules over people justly,
ruling in the fear of God,
is like the light of morning,
like the sun rising on a cloudless morning,
gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.  (vv.3b-4)

Definition of Photosynthesis, American Heritage Dictionary:

The process by which chlorophyll-containing cells in green plants
convert incident light to chemical energy
and synthesize organic compounds from inorganic compounds,
especially carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water,
with the simultaneous release of oxygen.  (1979, p.987)

My point:

Like photosynthesis, just governance is the process by which a social
organization is administrated according to the laws of God / Nature in
order to promote life, engender creativity / joy / meaning and prosper
in ways that enhance the quality of life for those within and beyond
that organization.

According to the poetry of King David's famous last words, he knew he
was an essential component in this process - as necessary and as
responsible as sunlight is for the outcome.  And he was confident that,
in God's opinion, he was this kind of ruler.  His government
administrated according to the laws of God, in keeping with a covenant
with God that, in legal terms, clearly articulated all points and was
irrevocable. (Harper's NRSV note)

Is not my house like this with God? (in God's opinion?) 
For God has made with me an everlasting covenant,
ordered in all things and secure.
(clearly articulated and irrevocable)  (v.5)

God clearly laid out this photosynthetic model of governance.  It was
implemented by King David's administration engendering social success
and Divine Approval.

And when Jesus, David's descendant, came along during an administration
that was NOT constructed according to this covenantal model, he embodied
this message in his own life and ministry.  His point was that we must
live according to that irrevocable covenant we all have with our Maker -
and know that any power we wield must be just and merciful.  Every act,
every investment, every decision, every relationship - must be
equivalent to the sun rising on a cloudless morning - in Iraq, in
Afghanistan, in Turkey, in Israel, in South Africa, in North Korea, in
Guatemala, in California.  Our use of power must "gleam from the rain on
the grassy land" - turning light into food and oxygen and beauty and new
life.

King David's famous last words were embodied in the life of Jesus.  They
make plain the bottom line of life itself:  we must abide within the
Covenant with Our Maker - which is clearly articulated and irrevocable -
or the earth (which includes us) will die.

The metaphor that Jesus liked to use - and so the church likes to use it
too - is Stewardship.  We don't own the place.  We are charged with
taking care of it.  And a good steward, rather than depleting resources,
uses them well in order to increase the well-being of all members of the
household.  A good steward can be compared to sunlight in the
photosynthetic process.

We humans, however, have a tough time believing that God invented a
better system than we could ever imagine.  We love to claim that God
made us in the Divine image - therefore, our creations are as good as
any of God's.  It's an attitude that is cute when we are two and a half
- but gets old when we are teenagers - and gets dangerous when we are
adults.

One of our favorite inventions is money - a measuring tool used to gauge
the value of an exchange - in order to ensure that trade is made in
kind.  Money has no value in and of itself.  In fact, most money we see
these days is merely theoretical numbers on a constantly changing sign
at the stock exchange - or on a computer screen - or in an annual
report.  Money is a tool to measure value and it holds an essential
place in the photosynthesis of our human social organization.

Like sunlight and justice, money can be misdirected and wasted - even
forced to be destructive.   Or it can be channeled and saved - allowed
to be productive.
Like fertilizer and charity, money can be piled in one place and allowed
to stink up the atmosphere.  Or it can be spread out and allowed to
nourish the gleaming, grassy land.
Like water and power, money can be stolen and polluted.  Or it can be
shared and regenerated.

Money is a tool that can be misused - to over value or devalue an object
or person, an exchange or a relationship.  It can be an impediment to
freedom, a saboteur of justice, a weapon, a narcotic.

But money is a tool.  And with it we can measure the value of a person -
not by what they BUY - but by what they give away.  (The Book of Words,
Rabbi L. Kushner p.75)  As Rabbi Lawrence Kushner says, "Wealth cannot
be measured in absolute dollars.  It is the HIGHLY SUBJECTIVE sensation
of having more than enough, so much that there is money to give away.
For this reason, wealth is a function of generosity.  The more you give,
the richer you fee."  (p.76)

The recent fires created any number of highly subjective sensations in
Southern Californians.  Those who lost everything felt, in some ways,
impoverished, in other ways, wealthy to have survived and have life
itself.  Others who escaped damage began to feel wealthy in comparison -
and acted in generous ways out of that perception of their own
richness... even if they had felt financially strapped the day before.

My highly subjective sensation about money has been a roller coaster
throughout my life.  And it has had less to do with how much money I
have and more to do with my general sense of well-being and serenity.  I
have a sincere and deep feeling of gratitude whenever I find myself
acting generously and it engenders a desire to do more.  At times I have
a deep fear of not being generous enough - which, in the past, depressed
me, and now causes me to look at the evidence and adjust my
perceptions. 
(Getting a full spectrum light at home sure has increased my highly
subjective sense of being a positive contribution to the photosynthetic
process of creating a just society.)

Facing the preaching of this sermon, I needed to get some objective data
regarding generosity in my life.  John and I looked at some numbers on
our Quicken bookkeeping program.  At first glance, my heart dropped.
Our Charity category was only 2.5% of our total annual expenditures.
Giving over all was only 6%.  But then I saw that it was the largest
category after Housing, Taxes and Savings.  We are giving away more than
we are eating - which made me feel better for some reason.

The more we looked at the numbers, the better we felt about our value as
photosynthetic people.
Charity 2.5%
Political donations take us to 3%
Financial and tangible support to various family members and friends
bring us up to 6%
If we include what we have given to non-profit adoption agencies in the
last year, that doubles our total - bringing us to more than 12%

And then I began to look at the organizations and causes we have
supported this year.
We have monthly pledges to:
UCC in Pasadena
Neighborhood UU in Pasadena
California Peace Action
KPCC public radio

We have also donated various amounts to:
UCC in Simi
One Great Hour of Sharing - Olive Branch: Humanitarian Aid to Iraq
Neighbors in Need
For Grace - RSD Awareness
L.A. Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness
Pomona College
Oberlin College
Claremont School of Theology
Teen Challenge
CA Police Activities League (for kids)
Pasadena Fire Fighters
Democrat Party - National and California
National Organization of Women
Senior Concerns
Church World Service / CROP
AIDS Ride for AIDS Project Los Angeles
American Red Cross
Sierra Club
Treepeople
Seeds of Simplicity
Holy Family Services
Vista del Mar Child and Family Services

Not to mention:
The purchase of gift wrap, candy, cookies and subscriptions from kids in
the neighborhood to support their school or club
Or the occasional donation to someone on a freeway off ramp
Or the forgiving of an unpaid loan
Or donations of blood, rummage, sweat and letter-writing
Or service (i.e. time) given to other churches, associations and the
Conference

John and I have not given obsessive amounts to one charity or one
category of social service.  The more I look at the numbers and letters
I see our giving like medium grade Bandini - spread across a grassy
land.  I know we can do more - but I also know that we are on the right
track.  We are attempting to model our home on the house of David -
according to the laws of God / Nature. 

We are struggling to use our power and resources wisely - in the face of
endless temptations to buy what we don't need and waste what we have.
In the long run, I hope that our contribution to the photosynthetic
process of human society and earth and life itself adds oxygen and
carbohydrates, justice and beauty, meaning and mercy, love and peace to
the world.

These are, perhaps, my very own famous last words.  But they are hopeful
words - that speak to a vision that continues to inspire me after all
these years.  It is a vision passed on to me from my parents and Sunday
School teachers, from the really good teachers and mentors of my younger
years.  It is a vision that scripture repeatedly startles me with - and
excellent science fiction captures imaginatively.

It is a vision found in art and literature, in social service and small
or large sacrifices.  it is articulated in your Core Values and in the
Covenant of this church, embodied in each of you and all of you
together.

May all those who wield power do so justly
according to the laws of God / Nature.

May all human endeavor be like the light of morning,
like the sun rising on a cloudless morning,
gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.
************************
Bulletin

WE GATHER FOR PRAYER AND CELEBRATION
Music for Gathering
Welcome and Perspective on the Day
Musical Preparation for Worship - A Time for Centering

+ Call to Worship (Unison)
Alpha and Omega, you encircle time with your presence, you
encircle creation with your love.  You brought all things into
being and receive all things back to you.  May we find our hope,
and our life, in your enfolding grace.  Amen.

+ Hymn of Praise  God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending
Hymnal # 565

+ Responsive Prayer of Concern
Congregational Response:  
We lift our voices to you, O God,
 who was, who is, and who is to come.

+ Our Common Prayer (unison)Creator God who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts
As we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil,
For Thine is the kingdom and the power
And the glory forever.  Amen.

Time for Silent Reflection
            One  My soul waits in silence.
            All:   God is my rock and my fortress.  I will be at peace.
            Silent Reflection
            The Assurance of Good News (unison)
               We live with joy in the Circle of God's covenant and
hope!
Sung Response          We Rejoice!     by Valerie Mackenzie
                    Choir              and Julie Snowdon
Billie Dierking, Director * Joan Thompson, Pianist

WE TEACH, REFLECT AND PROCLAIM
Conversation with Our Children    
Nickommoh! A Thanksgiving Celebration
by Jackie French Koller

Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures   2 Samuel 23:1-7
Sermon               Famous Last Words

WE RESPOND TO GOD'S INVITATION
Intercessions, Celebrations and Encouragements
            Call to Prayer             Be still and know that I am God
Hymnal # 743
            Time for Silence
            Our Joys and Concerns and an Offering of Prayer
            Sung Response                    In Solitude
Hymnal #521 vv. 1 & 2

We Offer Our Gifts - and our Pledges -
So That Our Lives May Be Our Prayer
            Offertory        With A Voice of Singing   
by M. Shaw
Arr. by J.W.Harris              Choir
Billie Dierking, Director * Joan Thompson, Pianist

Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Into this circle of your hope and promise we place our lives,
O God of all times and places.
In the circle of hope we make our offering to you.
Receive these gifts and use them by the power of your Spirit
to widen the circle of your reign through ministry.    Amen.

+ Hymn of Thanks    Now Thank We All Our God
Hymnal # 419

+ Commissioning (unison)
Let us take this circle of hope into the places of responsibility
to which we have been called.  Let us live as people of God's
covenant and promise, get on with the work of God's reign, a
nd bless the world as God blesses us!

+ Sung Response (we gather in some semblance of a circle)
Hymnal # 526
We are marching in the Light of God, We are marching in the Light of God
We are marching in the Light of God, We are marching in the Light of God
We are marching, Oo, We are marching in the Light of God
We are marching, Oo, We are marching in the Light of God

+ Postlude