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Last week in worship, we highlighted our upcoming “Listening Conversations” training taking place on Saturday, October 25th from 9 - noon, and in this weeks email, I’d like to focus a little more on that training so that you understand its significance. Church leadership has put together this training to help us answer two questions that are essential for our future: Who are we? and What are we being called to do as a church?
We believe that we are at a place in our church’s life where we should be answering these two questions, and that the best way to answer them is to listen to each other, and to simply have some in-depth conversations that let us know who we are and what this community needs. On October 25th, we are inviting EVERYONE to come and be trained in these simple listening conversations. We will train you to have conversations with other church members (or community members if you like) and then to report back to us what you hear from those conversations. It’s not a complicated training or task, but I do believe that it is a vitally important part of our future and direction here. I urge everyone to attend the training, and learn more about what we are doing. Lunch and childcare will be provided. We’ll talk more about this on Sunday during worship, and if you would like to read the Scripture passage before then, you can find it here.(Pastor Brent)
Scripture Texts:
Exodus 3:1-2 Moses was shepherding the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the west end of the wilderness and came to the mountain of God, Horeb. The angel of God appeared to him in flames of fire blazing out of the middle of a bush. He looked. The bush was blazing away but it didn’t burn up.
3 Moses said, “What’s going on here? I can’t believe this! Amazing! Why doesn’t the bush burn up?”
4 God saw that he had stopped to look. God called to him from out of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
He said, “Yes? I’m right here!”
5 God said, “Don’t come any closer. Remove your sandals from your feet. You’re standing on holy ground.”
6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.”
Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God.
7-8 God said, “I’ve taken a good, long look at the affliction of my people in Egypt. I’ve heard their cries for deliverance from their slave masters; I know all about their pain. And now I have come down to help them, pry them loose from the grip of Egypt, get them out of that country and bring them to a good land with wide-open spaces, a land lush with milk and honey, the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
9-10 “The Israelite cry for help has come to me, and I’ve seen for myself how cruelly they’re being treated by the Egyptians. It’s time for you to go back: I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the People of Israel, out of Egypt.”
11 Moses answered God, “But why me? What makes you think that I could ever go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
12 “I’ll be with you,” God said. “And this will be the proof that I am the one who sent you: When you have brought my people out of Egypt, you will worship God right here at this very mountain.”
13 Then Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the People of Israel and I tell them, ‘The God of your fathers sent me to you’; and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ What do I tell them?”
14 God said to Moses, “I-AM-WHO-I-AM. Tell the People of Israel, ‘I-AM sent me to you.’”
15 God continued with Moses: “This is what you’re to say to the Israelites: ‘God, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob sent me to you.’ This has always been my name, and this is how I always will be known.
16-17 “Now be on your way. Gather the leaders of Israel. Tell them, ‘God, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I’ve looked into what’s being done to you in Egypt, and I’ve determined to get you out of the affliction of Egypt and take you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, a land brimming over with milk and honey.”’
18 “Believe me, they will listen to you. Then you and the leaders of Israel will go to the king of Egypt and say to him: ‘God, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness where we will worship God—our God.’
19-22 “I know that the king of Egypt won’t let you go unless forced to, so I’ll intervene and hit Egypt where it hurts—oh, my miracles will send them reeling!—after which they’ll be glad to send you off. I’ll see to it that this people get a hearty send-off by the Egyptians—when you leave, you won’t leave empty-handed! Each woman will ask her neighbor and any guests in her house for objects of silver and gold, for jewelry and extra clothes; you’ll put them on your sons and daughters. Oh, you’ll clean the Egyptians out!”
4:1 Moses objected, “They won’t trust me. They won’t listen to a word I say. They’re going to say, ‘God? Appear to him? Hardly!’”
2 So God said, “What’s that in your hand?”
“A staff.”
3 “Throw it on the ground.” He threw it. It became a snake; Moses jumped back—fast!
4-5 God said to Moses, “Reach out and grab it by the tail.” He reached out and grabbed it—and he was holding his staff again. “That’s so they will trust that God appeared to you, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
6 God then said, “Put your hand inside your shirt.” He slipped his hand under his shirt, then took it out. His hand had turned leprous, like snow.
7 He said, “Put your hand back under your shirt.” He did it, then took it back out—as healthy as before.
8-9 “So if they don’t trust you and aren’t convinced by the first sign, the second sign should do it. But if it doesn’t, if even after these two signs they don’t trust you and listen to your message, take some water out of the Nile and pour it out on the dry land; the Nile water that you pour out will turn to blood when it hits the ground.”
10 Moses raised another objection to God: “Master, please, I don’t talk well. I’ve never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer.”
11-12 God said, “And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn’t it I, God? So, get going. I’ll be right there with you—with your mouth! I’ll be right there to teach you what to say.”
13 He said, “Oh, Master, please! Send somebody else!”
14-17 God got angry with Moses: “Don’t you have a brother, Aaron the Levite? He’s good with words, I know he is. He speaks very well. In fact, at this very moment he’s on his way to meet you. When he sees you he’s going to be glad. You’ll speak to him and tell him what to say. I’ll be right there with you as you speak and with him as he speaks, teaching you step by step. He will speak to the people for you. He’ll act as your mouth, but you’ll decide what comes out of it. Now take this staff in your hand; you’ll use it to do the signs.”
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary:
Exodus 3:1-4:17
Verse 1
[1] Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
Now Moses - The years of Moses's life are remarkably divided into three forties; the first forty he spent as a prince in Pharaoh's court, the second a shepherd in Midian, the third a king in Jeshurun. He had now finished his second forty when he received his commission to bring Israel out of Egypt. Sometimes it is long before God calls his servants out to that work which of old he designed them for. Moses was born to be Israel's deliverer, and yet not a word is said of it to him till he is eighty years of age.
Even to Horeb — Horeb and Sinai were two tops of the same mountain.
Verse 2
[2] And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
And the angel of the Lord appeared to him — It was an extraordinary manifestation of the divine glory; what was visible was produced by the ministry of an angel, but he heard God in it speaking to him.
In a flame of fire — To shew that God was about to bring terror and destruction to his enemies, light and heat to his people, and to display his glory before all.
And the bush burned, and yet was not consumed — An emblem of the church now in bondage in Egypt, burning in the brick-kilns, yet not consumed; cast down, but not destroyed.
Verse 3
[3] And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
I will turn aside and see — He speaks as one inquisitive, and bold in his inquiry; whatever it was, he would if possible know the meaning of it.
Verse 4
[4] And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see it, God called to him — If he had carelessly neglected it, it is likely God had departed and said nothing to him.
God called and said, Moses, Moses — This which he heard could not but surprise him much more than what he saw. Divine calls are then effectual, when the spirit of God makes them particular, and calls us as by name. The Word calls, Ho, every one; the Spirit, by the application of that, calls, Ho, such a one; I know thee by name.
Here am I — Not only to hear what is said, but to do what I am bidden.
Verse 5
[5] And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Put off thy shoes from off thy feet — The putting off the shoe was then what the putting off the hat is now, a token of respect and submission. The ground is holy ground, made so by this special manifestation of the divine presence. We ought to approach to God with a solemn pause and preparation; and to express our inward reverence, by a grave and reverent behaviour in the worship of God, carefully avoiding every thing that looks light, or rude.
Verse 6
[6] Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
I am the God of thy father — He lets him know it is God that speaks to him, to engage his reverence, faith and obedience. Thy father, thy pious father Amram, and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, thy ancestors. Engaged to them by solemn covenant, which I am now come to perform.
And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God — The more we see of God, the more cause we shall see to worship him with reverence and godly fear. And even the manifestations of God's grace should increase our humble reverence of him.
Verse 8
[8] And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
I am come down to deliver them — When God doth something very extraordinary, he is said to come down to do it, as Isaiah 64:1. This deliverance was typical of our redemption by Christ, and in that the eternal Word did indeed come down from heaven to deliver us.
A large land — So it was, according to its true and ancient bounds, as they are described, Genesis 15:18, and not according to those narrow limits, to which they were afterwards confined for their unbelief and impiety.
A land flowing with milk and honey — A proverbial expression, abounding with the choicest fruits, both for necessity and delight.
Verse 10
[10] Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
I will send thee — And the same hand that now fetched a shepherd out of a desert to be the planter of the Jewish church, afterwards fetched fishermen from their ships to be the planters of the Christian church, that the excellency of the power might be of God.
Verse 11
[11] And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
Who am I? — He thinks himself unworthy of the honour and unable for the work. He thinks he wants courage, and therefore cannot go to Pharaoh: he thinks he wants conduct, and therefore cannot bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt; they are unarmed, undisciplined, quite dispirited, utterly unable to help themselves, Moses was incomparably the fittest of any man living for this work, eminent for learning, wisdom, experience, valour, faith, holiness, and yet Who am I? The more fit any person is for service, commonly the less opinion he has of himself.
Verse 12
[12] And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
Certainly I will be with thee — Those that are weak in themselves, yet may do wonders being strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. God's presence puts wisdom and strength into the weak and foolish, and is enough to answer all objections.
Verse 13
[13] And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
When they shall say to me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them? — What name shall I use, whereby thou mayest be distinguished from false gods, and thy people may be encouraged to expect deliverance from thee?
Verse 14
[14] And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
And God said — Two names God would now be known by. 1. A name that speaks what he is in himself, I am that I am - This explains his name Jehovah, and signifies, 1st, That he is self-existent; he has his being of himself, and has no dependence upon any other. And being self-existent he cannot but be self-sufficient, and therefore all-sufficient, and the inexhaustible fountain of being and bliss. 2dly, That he is eternal and unchangeable, always the same, yesterday to-day, and for ever: he will be what he will be, and what he is. 3dly. That he is faithful and true to all his promises, unchangeable in his word as well as in his nature, and not a man that he should lie. Let Israel know this, I am hath sent me unto you. 2. A name that speaks what he is to his people. Lest that name I am should puzzle them, he is farther directed to make use of another name of God, more familiar.
Verse 15
[15] And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
The Lord God of our fathers hath sent me unto you — Thus God made himself known, that he might revive among them the religion of their fathers, which was much decayed, and almost lost. And that he might raise their expectations of the speedy performance of the promises made unto their fathers: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are particularly named, because with Abraham the covenant was first made, and with Isaac and Jacob oft expressly renewed, and these three were distinguished from their brethren, and chosen to be the trustees of the covenant. This God will have to be his name for ever, and it has been, is, and will be his name, by which his worshippers know him, and distinguish him from all false gods.
Verse 18
[18] And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.
Hath met with us — Hath appeared to us, declaring his will, that we should do what follows.
Verse 19
[19] And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
I am sure he will not let you go — God sends his messengers to those whose obstinacy he foresees, that it may appear he would have them turn and live.
Verse 22
[22] But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.
Everywoman shall ask (not borrow!) jewels.
And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians — God sometimes makes the enemies of his people not only to be at peace with them, but to be kind to them. And he has many ways of balancing accounts between the injured and the injurious, of righting the oppressed, and compelling those that have done wrong to make restitution.
Verse 1
[1] And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.
They will not hearken to my voice-That is, they would not take his bare word, unless he shewed them some sign. He remembered how they had once rejected him, and feared it would be so again.
Verse 2
[2] And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
A rod — Or staff.
Verse 5
[5] That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.
That they may believe — An imperfect sentence to be thus compleated, This thou shalt do, before them, that they may believe.
Verse 6
[6] And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.
His hand was leprous, as snow — For whiteness. This signified, That Moses, by the power of God, should bring sore diseases upon Egypt, that at his prayer they should be removed. And that whereas the Israelites in Egypt were become leprous, polluted by sin, and almost consumed by oppression, by being taken into the bosom of Moses they should be cleansed and cured.
Verse 8
[8] And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
The voice of the first sign — God's works have a voice to speak to us, which we must diligently observe.
Verse 10
[10] And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
O my Lord, I am not eloquent — He was a great philosopher, statesman, and divine, and yet no orator; a man of a clear head, great thought and solid judgment, but had not a voluble tongue, nor ready utterance; and therefore he thought himself unfit to speak before great men, and about great affairs. Moses was mighty in word, Acts 7:22, and yet not eloquent: what he said was strong and nervous, and to the purpose, and distilled as the dew, Deuteronomy 32:2, though he did not deliver himself with that readiness, ease and fineness that some do.
Verse 13
[13] And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.
Send by whom thou wilt send — By any but me.
Verse 14
[14] And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
And the anger of the Lord was kindled against him — Even self-diffidence when it grows into an extreme, when it either hinders us from duty, or clogs us in duty, is very displeasing to him.
Verse 15
[15] And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.
I will be with thy mouth and with his mouth — Even Aaron that could speak well, yet could not speak to purpose, unless God were with his mouth; without the constant aids of divine grace, the best gifts will fail.
Verse 16
[16] And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.
Instead of God — To teach and to command him.
Verse 17
[17] And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.
Take this rod — The staff or crook he carried as a shepherd, that he might not be ashamed of that mean condition out of which God called him. This rod must be his staff of authority, and must be to him instead, both of sword and sceptre.
Sermon Story "Really Listening and Being Really Present" from Gary Lee Parker for Sunday 19 October 2014:
Apparently from this Scripture text, Moses life was divided into three phases from Prince of Egypt under Pharoah, Marriage and Shepherd of his father-9n-law's sheep, and now we see him as being called to be the leader of the People of Israel to lead them out of their Eygptian bondage. In our own life, we to have been divided into phases such as education/training, vocation, and then retirement. Of course, in God's life for us there really is no retirement for our lives here on earth for He calls us to be His witnesses in all phases of our life. How do you see God working and has worked in your life? Moses is out shepherding the sheep of his father-in-law and comes close to the Mount that is God's. As Moses appraches, he sees a strange site that a bush is on fire, but is not being cosumed by the fire. As Moses approaches this bush on fire for his investigation, God speaks to him as God has his attention to remove his shoes because the place he is walking is Holy Ground because God's Presence there. Since God has Moses' attention, even though Moses remembers when the People of Israel rejected him as leader after he killed an Egyptian who was abusing a Person of Israel and his own speech impediment, God begn to tell Moses what He wants him to do for Him with His Presence. Moses asked God how we they know that God has called and talked with him. God responds to throw down his staff that turns into a serpent/snake, then God says to pick it up by the tail and it turns back into his staff. Then, Mses ask God what name we he tell the People of Israel when they ask for God's Name. God responds that His Name is "I Am" and the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. The first exucuse is that Moses attempts to plea with God to send someone else to no avail. Moses continues to make excuses by saying that he has never been a great speaker because he is slow at his speech. God becomes angry with Moses for this excuse simply states in a question to Moses who made the blind, the deaf, the mute, and the crippled, did not I? God apparently was saying this to get Moses to realize that He is able to use aybody for His purposes to bring His Glory to His people whether a person has a speech impediment, deaf, blind, or crippled. Wow! How do you view this encounter of God with Moses? What characters in this story do you relate to or not relate to? How do you Moses' listening without any distractions such as the sheep he was shepherding due to remaining in God's Presence as God is in his presence? How can you relate to Moses' listening intently to how we really listen to other people where they are? In this encounter, I am reminded of the book "Discernment" written by Michael and Rebecca Laird Chrsitensen and their observation of Father Henri Nouwen's presence and really listening to a person he was with. Lord Jesus, guide us to be present and really listen to the people who we are with. Amen!
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We're starting off this fall with the annual tradition of gifting our 4th graders Bibles! Since this is our first year doing this, we would like to give Bibles to all kids 4th grade and older.We would like to present these Bibles to the kids during the 10:30am worship service on Sunday October 26th. We would love if all the kids and families could be present for this event. In addition to receiving Bibles, Pastor Brent would like to hold a 30-45 min "Bible Owner's Manual" class for 4th- 6th graders during Sunday school on Sunday Oct. 19th, one week prior to receiving their bibles. This class will begin at 9:45am. If you'd like your child to have a Bible of their own, please contact Alisa at sugie1980@gmail.com with your child's first and last name, so we can write them in the Bibles!
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On October 12th, we made some changes to our Sunday School Program and overallSunday morning schedule. Sunday School now begins at 9:45 for all children and adults, and childcare is offered during worship, if necessary.
We will be needing 2-3 volunteers each week to help the kids with crafts and games. Please pray about how you might be able to give of your time at least once a month, to be a positive loving example of God’s love to our kids. Sunday School & Volunteer sign-ups have already begun, so please contact us if you are up to the task!
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We are at a crucial turning point in the life of our Church Community. We have been together for over a year now, and it is time to put our dreams and talents together to come up with the best and most effective ways to minister to our Community. To begin this process, we will be conducting one on one listening conversations with people at NHUMC, and also with people within the community. If you would like to be a part of this, save the date! We'll have a training meeting the morning of October 25th on how to have effective one on one listening conversations. Contact Nancy at nancy@nhunited.org, or call at (858) 518-5714 for more info.
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Jesus's declarations in the speech known as the “Sermon on the Mount” are easily some of the most challenging words in the entire Bible. In that sermon, he urges his followers to “love their enemies” and “bless those who persecute them.” But how do we do this? Is this realistic or just a goal to be aimed for? At our next Faith on Tap, we will be discussing “The Sermon on the Mount: Possible or Impossible?” “Faith on Tap” is our casual beer and faith discussion group. We will be meeting in Mike and Nancy Palmer’s backyard, and if you’d like directions or want more info, please email Nancy at Nancy@nhunited.org. Everyone is welcome at this event!
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Every year, we hold an annual meeting to discuss the year, elect leadership for the following year, and approve budget items. This is known as a “Charge Conference,” and this year it will be held on October 27th at 6pm in the Social Hall. Church Council are those who vote at this meeting, but all are welcome to attend and have a voice!
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Each year we, as a church, mark and remember a day called “All Souls Sunday.” It is a day when we remember those who have passed away and celebrate their lives and presence with us. It’s a religious service that is both a recognition of sorrow, and a reminder of hope. A service where we announce that we do not grieve as those without hope in God, because we believe that we will be reunited again with those who have died.
And in this way, both "All Souls Sunday" and the Latin celebration of Dia de los Muertoshave something in common. Both are religious observations that we are not separated from those who have passed, for we are together in God’s love that is not restrained by life or death. Thus, on November 2nd, we will mark the day as our “All Souls Sunday” with a Dia de los Muertos aesthetic. Here is how we invite you to participate:
If there is someone you would like to remember in the service on November 2nd, we are asking that you send us their photo and name. We will make a candle with their picture and have it ready on Sunday morning. Then, during communion time, as you receive communion you can come to the worship table and light their candle as recognition that we are still gathered together in the communion of God’s love for the world. You will not be asked to say anything or do anything where others will be focused on you, just come and light the candle we’ve made for your loved one during communion time. It’s a quiet liturgy of healing and hope.
So, if there is someone you’d like to have a candle prepared for, please send me their photo and full name at brent@nhunited.org. We will do the rest and have it ready for you on that Sunday.
Sincerely,
Pastor Brent
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