Missionary Renegade: "This Week in Worship • Poured Out" at Normal Heights United Methodist Church of San Diego, California, United States with Senior Pastor, Reverend Brent Ross for Thursday, 21 May 2015

Thursday, May 21, 2015

"This Week in Worship • Poured Out" at Normal Heights United Methodist Church of San Diego, California, United States with Senior Pastor, Reverend Brent Ross for Thursday, 21 May 2015

"This Week in Worship • Poured Out" at Normal Heights United Methodist Church of San Diego, California, United States with Senior Pastor, Reverend Brent Ross for Thursday, 21 May 2015

What you'll find in this week's email:

• This Week in Worship:

Poured Out

• New Sunday Morning Small Group

• Faith on Tap ( Tonight • 6:30p-8:00p )

• Bible Study Reopens ( Starts 6/3 • 6:30p-8:00p )

• Connector Training Event ( 6/7 • 11:45a-12:15p )

• Youth Ministries Parent Meeting ( 5/31 • 11:45a-1:00p )

As a boy, I loved the original Mad Max films. The first one I ever saw was the second film, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, and it was all thanks to that kid in my neighborhood who had the magical combination of HBO and two working parents. I was 10 years old and still remember the distinct feel and vision of that movie. The desert wasteland, the vehicles, the characters... all of it felt like a very different, but recognizable place. Mad Max too, felt clearly different than anyone I knew, but also quite recognizable; but this is the power of cinema, right? That a boy growing up in South Florida can watch a film about an apocalyptic wasteland warrior and somehow a bridge is created and maintained for 94 minutes that joins those two things. It's a fantastic thing, really.

Well, on Monday I had the chance to see the newest Mad Max film called Fury Road, and it was in many ways simply another Mad Max film which was updated to feel more contemporary. And yet, there was something substantially different in this one... something that seemed further and deeper than what I prepared for when I went to see an "action film" on such a lazy Monday afternoon. I'm not precisely sure how, but this one seems Biblical.

"HOPE IN THE APOCALYPSE (or why I can’t wait for my daughter to watch Mad Max for Pentecost)" by Rev Brent Ross

As a boy, I loved the original Mad Max films. The first one I ever saw was the second film, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, and it was all thanks to that kid in my neighborhood who had the magical combination of HBO and two working parents. I was 10 years old and still remember the distinct feel and vision of that movie. The desert wasteland, the vehicles, the characters…all of it felt like a very different, but recognizable place. Mad Max too, felt clearly different than anyone I knew, but also quite recognizable. But this is the power of cinema, right? That a boy growing up in South Florida can watch a film about an apocalyptic wasteland warrior and somehow a bridge is created and maintained for 94 minutes that joins those two things. It’s a fantastic thing really.

Well, on Monday I had the chance to see the newest Mad Max film called Fury Road, and it was in many ways simply another Mad Max film which was updated to feel more contemporary. And yet, there was something substantially different in this one…something that seemed further and deeper than what I prepared for when I went to see an “action film” on such a lazy Monday afternoon. I’m not precisely sure how, but this one seems Biblical.

Again, I’m not sure how or even what I may mean about using that word to describe this movie, but it seems right. There was just something about the setting of the desert, the wandering of those in search of hope, the brutality of the forces who seek to control life and the future, and the raw juxtaposition of the ideals of hope, redemption and freedom with the broken and fragile people who seek to find and know these ideals. But none of that alone may have made it Biblical for me without one other factor…and that is the treatment of women in the film.

[Spoiler Alert] When the movie begins, the first thing we we learn is that Max is haunted by his daughter, because in the past, she was literally run over by this world and its machines of production and death. Throughout the film, her spectral figure haunts (guides?) him as an almost constant reminder that he did not stand by her or guide her enough in such a world. The world is symbolized by the Citadel, a place that has precisely what the world needs in water, life and agriculture, but it is also a place that is profoundly patriarchal in its power structure. Men receive the benefit of these things (the men in power that is) and while women are “valued” they are only protected or treasured as property or as commodities to be held and used by systems of power and the men who profit from it. (One of the most particularly vivid examples of this being the use of “mothers milk” which is gathered and used not to nurture children, but only for warriors in pursuit of more fuel.) In short, it is a place where women exist in the story solely because they are there to serve the larger structure…which itself only exists because of women and how it uses their very bodies and lives.

Max initially becomes involved in the escape of some of these women from the Citadel, not by choice but because he himself is trying to escape it for his own reasons. But eventually through a plan not of his own devising or creation, he begins to see what his role really is in all of this, and what he finally comes to understand is this…that his obligation to his daughter is his obligation to all women. That what he was unable or unwilling to do for her is precisely what he must do for others…and the name given to all of this is redemption.

Though the script and even visually in some portions, Max then begins his own movement. While he moves into the periphery of the story and plan, the women he was “rescuing” move into the center. Charlize Theron’s character (the absolutely unforgettable Imperator Furiosa) begins to increasingly guide the story and plan towards its future. What happens then is that Max in a subtle awakening sees that his role is to begin to help the women in the film tell their story. Eventually he stops directing and ordering or guiding-until a crucial moment. Near the end of the film, he speaks his own word of redemption and it is this suggestion…that the redemption taking place for those women may also be the redemption of the Citadel. That, in essence, maybe the answer is not to leave behind that patriarchal structure that has harmed them, but instead their hope and redemption as prophets might be radical enough to change even it. [Spoilers over]

As a pastor/preacher, I truthfully worry about my 12 year-old daughter reading the Scriptures and hearing the stories of women in them. The treatment of women in so many of the stories, their mostly peripheral roles in the life of the people of God and, of course, the writings of Paul…all these images and their effects on her and how she may be seeing her place in the story of Scriptures and the church. And while this is by no means a rejection of the Biblical story in totality, neither do I feel comfortable letting her wander those pages alone without guidance from my wife and me. This is compounded by the fact that the only pastor she has now is me, and that many weeks we don’t have near enough female spiritual leaders visible in church. Sometimes it just feels like a big structure that has been here for so long that I don’t know how to change it.

And this is why I want my daughter to see this film. Because as it turns out, I not only see her in this film but I also see myself too…as Max. I watch films like this and I wonder if I’ve done enough to stand with my daughter in the story of Scriptures-stories that sometimes seem far too much like the Citadel. I’m guided (haunted?) by the questions of “Have I helped my daughter find and tell her story enough?” and “Am I helping her move into the center of the story of faith in our community?” Most of all, as we prepare to celebrate Pentecost this Sunday, are we ready for our daughters to prophesy as Peter announced would happen when the Spirit is poured out? Is the church really ready to hear and live those dreams? Ultimately, I want my daughter to dream and tell her dreams of God not only for her, but also because I think the church needs her to…and it needs all of our daughters to.

This Pentecost I am reminded that whatever redemption and hope is that it is radical enough to even change who we are and who the church thinks it is called to be. This Sunday we celebrate the movement of the Spirit and our prayer is that we still allow the Spirit to move in and among us…and that the name given to this is also redemption. See you on Sunday, and if you’d like to read our Scripture before then you can find it here.

Continue Reading on Pastor Brent's Blog...

Lectionary Readings:

Acts 2:1-21

Lectionary Scriptures:

Acts 2:1 The festival of Shavu‘ot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. 2 Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and began to talk in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

5 Now there were staying in Yerushalayim religious Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered; they were confused, because each one heard the believers speaking in his own language. 7 Totally amazed, they asked, “How is this possible? Aren’t all these people who are speaking from the Galil? 8 How is it that we hear them speaking in our native languages? 9 We are Parthians, Medes, Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Y’hudah, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome; 11 Jews by birth and proselytes; Jews from Crete and from Arabia. . . ! How is it that we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great things God has done?” 12 Amazed and confused, they all went on asking each other, “What can this mean?” 13 But others made fun of them and said, “They’ve just had too much wine!”

14 Then Kefa stood up with the Eleven and raised his voice to address them: “You Judeans, and all of you staying here in Yerushalayim! Let me tell you what this means! Listen carefully to me!

15 “These people ar en’t drunk, as you suppose — it’s only nine in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken about through the prophet Yo’el:

17 ‘Adonai says:

“In the Last Days,

I will pour out from my Spirit upon everyone.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

18 Even on my slaves, both men and women,

will I pour out from my Spirit in those days;

and they will prophesy.

19 I will perform miracles in the sky above

and signs on the earth below —

blood, fire and thick smoke.

20 The sun will become dark

and the moon blood

before the great and fearful Day of Adonai comes.

21 And then, whoever calls on the name of Adonai will be saved.”’[a][Footnotes:

Acts 2:21 Joel 3:1–5(2:28–32)]

John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for:

Acts 2:1-21

Verse 2

[2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven — So will the Son of man come to judgment.

And it filled all the house — That is, all that part of the temple where they were sitting.

Verse 3

[3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And there appeared distinct tongues, as of fire — That is, small flames of fire. This is all which the phrase, tongues of fire, means in the language of the seventy. Yet it might intimate God's touching their tongues as it were (together with their hearts) with Divine fire: his giving them such words as were active and penetrating, even as flaming fire.

Verse 4

[4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

And they began to speak with other tongues — The miracle was not in the ears of the hearers, (as some have unaccountably supposed,) but in the mouth of the speakers. And this family praising God together, with the tongues of all the world, was an earnest that the whole world should in due time praise God in their various tongues.

As the Spirit gave them utterance — Moses, the type of the law, was of a slow tongue; but the Gospel speaks with a fiery and flaming one.

Verse 5

[5] And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews — Gathered from all parts by the peculiar providence of God.

Verse 6

[6] Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

The multitude came together, and were confounded — The motions of their minds were swift and various.

Verse 9

[9] Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

Judea — The dialect of which greatly differed from that of Galilee.

Asia — The country strictly so called.

Verse 10

[10] Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

Roman sojourners — Born at Rome, but now living at Jerusalem. These seem to have come to Jerusalem after those who are above mentioned. All of them were partly Jews by birth, and partly proselytes.

Verse 11

[11] Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Cretans — One island seems to be mentioned for all.

The wonderful works of God — Probably those which related to the miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, together with the effusion of his Spirit, as a fulfilment of his promises, and the glorious dispensations of Gospel grace.

Verse 12

[12] And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

They were all amazed — All the devout men.

Verse 13

[13] Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

But others mocking — The world begins with mocking, thence proceeds to cavilling, Acts 4:7; to threats, 4:17; to imprisoning, Acts 5:18; blows, 5:40; to slaughter, Acts 7:58. These mockers appear to have been some of the natives of Judea, and inhabitants of Jerusalem, (who understood only the dialect of the country,) by the apostle's immediately directing his discourse to them in the next verse.

They are full of sweet wine — So the Greek word properly signifies. There was no new wine so early in the year as pentecost. Thus natural men are wont to ascribe supernatural things to mere natural causes; and many times as impudently and unskilfully as in the present case.

Verse 14

[14] But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

Then Peter standing up — All the gestures, all the words of Peter, show the utmost sobriety; lifted up his voice - With cheerfulness and boldness; and said to them - This discourse has three parts; each of which, Acts 2:14,22,29, begins with the same appellation, men: only to the last part he prefixes with more familiarity the additional word brethren.

Men of Judea — That is, ye that are born in Judea. St. Peter spoke in Hebrew, which they all understood.

Verse 15

[15] For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

It is but the third hour of the day — That is, nine in the morning. And on the solemn festivals the Jews rarely ate or drank any thing till noon.

Verse 16

[16] But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet — But there is another and better way of accounting for this. Joel 2:28

Verse 17

[17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

The times of the Messiah are frequently called the last days, the Gospel being the last dispensation of Divine grace.

I will pour out of my Spirit — Not on the day of pentecost only, upon all flesh - On persons of every age, sex, and rank.

And your young men shall see visions — In young men the outward sense, are most vigorous, and the bodily strength is entire, whereby they are best qualified to sustain the shock which usually attends the visions of God. In old men the internal senses are most vigorous, suited to divine dreams. Not that the old are wholly excluded from the former, nor the young from the latter.

Verse 18

[18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

And upon my servants — On those who are literally in a state of servitude.

Verse 19

[19] And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

And I will show prodigies in heaven above, and signs on earth beneath — Great revelations of grace are usually attended with great judgments on those who reject it.

In heaven — Treated of, Acts 2:20.

On earth — Described in this verse. Such signs were those mentioned, Acts 2:22, before the passion of Christ; which are so mentioned as to include also those at the very time of the passion and resurrection, at the destruction of Jerusalem, and at the end of the world. Terrible indeed were those prodigies in particular which preceded the destruction of Jerusalem: such as the flaming sword hanging over the city, and the fiery comet pointing down upon it for a year; the light that shone upon the temple and the altar in the night, as if it had been noon-day; the opening of the great and heavy gate of the temple without hands; the voice heard from the most holy place, Let us depart hence; the admonition of Jesus the son of Ananus, crying for seven years together, Wo, wo, wo; the vision of contending armies in the air, and of entrenchments thrown up against a city there represented; the terrible thunders and lightnings, and dreadful earthquakes, which every one considered as portending some great evil: all which, through the singular providence of God, are particularly recorded by Josephus.

Blood — War and slaughter.

Fire — Burnings of houses and towns, involving all in clouds of smoke.

Verse 20

[20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

The moon shall be turned into blood — A bloody colour: before the day of the Lord - Eminently the last day; though not excluding any other day or season, wherein the Lord shall manifest his glory, in taking vengeance of his adversaries.

Verse 21

[21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

But — whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord - This expression implies the whole of religion, and particularly prayer uttered in faith; shall be saved - From all those plagues; from sin and hell.

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Upper Room Ministries, a ministry of Discipleship Ministries

PO Box 340004

Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004 United States

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Sermon Story "The Promise Received" by Gary Lee Parker for Sunday, 24 May 2015 with Scripture: Acts 2:1 The festival of Shavu‘ot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. 2 Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and began to talk in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

14 Then Kefa stood up with the Eleven and raised his voice to address them: “You Judeans, and all of you staying here in Yerushalayim! Let me tell you what this means! Listen carefully to me!

15 “These people ar en’t drunk, as you suppose — it’s only nine in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken about through the prophet Yo’el:

17 ‘Adonai says:

“In the Last Days,

I will pour out from my Spirit upon everyone.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

18 Even on my slaves, both men and women,

will I pour out from my Spirit in those days;

and they will prophesy.

19 I will perform miracles in the sky above

and signs on the earth below —

blood, fire and thick smoke.

20 The sun will become dark

and the moon blood

before the great and fearful Day of Adonai comes.

21 And then, whoever calls on the name of Adonai will be saved.”’[a][Footnotes:

Acts 2:21 Joel 3:1–5(2:28–32)]

I will never forget that day when my father and mother took me to Jeursalem for the Feast of Pentecost. This is the Feast that we remember God giving the Torah to us who are Israelites. I remembering studying this in the Synagogue School where my Rabbis would ask us questions about the Torah, then at break I rememer my fellow students and I would talk about this Rabbi who chose His Disciples from uneducated or sinners of the Torah. We heard stories of this man' teachings and healings, but the Rabbis said that this man could not be the Messiah Promised because He was from Nazareth, not Bethlehem. We also heard the stories about His beating by the Temle Guards and Roman soldiers before He was crucified and died like a criminal on an execution stake. Yes, we heard stories about His disciples saying that He was raised from the dead walking among them for 40 days before being taken back to His Father-God. Now, we are here remembering God giving us the Torah and we hear a rshing mighty wind coming down into that Upper Room in that house where we see tongues of fire descending on the heads of the people in the room. Suddennly, we hear the people speaking in other languages other than Hebrew and Aramaic because there were people here in Jerusalem from other countries whether they are Jews or Converts to Judaism. I heard some people say that these people in the Upper Room must be drunk, but then the leader of this group, Peter was his name, stood up and said that they were not drunk, but this is what was promised in the Prophetic Book of Joel. In the last days, there were be young people with vision and old people dreaming dreams. Then, this man sahred about this Jesus who truly is the Messiah of Israel and He is not dead, but alive sitting at the right hand of the Father in the Kingdom of God. Suddenly, I heard myself along with others asked what we needed to do to be saved. Peter told us to repent of our sins and embrace Jesus for who He is the Messiah the Son of Man and Son of God-you know-god-incarnate. I repented as did others and was baptized receving the promised Holy Spirit as they did and I realized that I was a Completed Jew or Messianic Jew. What a day that was and I partook of a common meal with them conclusing with eating the Body of Jesus and drinking His Blood in partaking of the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist as you will do today coming forward singing the Hymn "Come Holy Spirit"

1. Come, Holy Spirit, I need you

Come, sweet Spirit, I pray

Come in your strength and your power

Come in your own gentle way

2. Come as a rest to the weary

Come as a balm to the sore

Come, Lord, as strength to my weakness

Fill me with joy evermore

3. Come, Holy Spirit, I need you

Come, sweet Spirit, I pray

Come in your strength and your power

Come in your own gentle way

4. Come like a spring in the desert

Come to the withered of soul

Lord, let your sweet healing power

Touch me and make me whole

5. Come, Holy Spirit, I need you

Come, sweet Spirit, I pray

Come in your strength and your power

Come in your own gentle way

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4147 Idaho Street, Apt. 1

San Diego, California 92104-1844, United States

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We have a new small group starting at 9:45am on Sundays! The Parenting Support Group is an informal parents group that meets to discuss the challenges and rewards of parenting. This is a relaxed, free-flowing conversational group with a simple agenda… to give parents a place to talk, encourage and gather while their children are cared for by our excellent childcare team and Sunday School teachers! This group will meet eachSunday, upstairs in the conference room (straight ahead at the top of the stairs.)

Additionally, don’t forget about our Sunday morning Scripture discussion group, also at9:45am! Each week, this group meets to talk about the Scripture we’ll be focusing on in worship at 10:30am, and some time to pray for each other. Led by Heather Ross, this is a casual, but informative Scripture study and small group. This group meets eachSunday in the Social Hall (straight ahead in the double doors off Mansfield Street).

Faith on Tap meets this Thursday! This month's topic is “Forgiveness.” What is forgiveness? Must we forgive in order to be forgiven by God? We will discuss these things and more this week in Normal Heights.

Faith on Tap is our casual beer and faith discussion group. We meet at the home of local church members, Mike and Nancy Palmer, and if you’d like directions or want more info, please email Nancy directly at nancy@nhunited.org. Everyone is welcome at this event!

The current Bible Study on the Gospel of Luke is making some changes for the summer. Starting on June 3rd, the study will move to the church so that we can accommodate vacation schedules and more people for the summer. This ongoing Bible Study meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month, from 6:30 - 8:00pm, and is currently working through the Gospel of Luke. This study is open to all and is a question and discussion-based study! We are only about 5 chapters into the book, so this is a great time to join! If you’d like to join the group, or would need childcare for the summer, please feel free to email Pastor Brent at brent@nhunited.org.

On Sunday, June 7th after the service, we will be having a “Connector Training” event for about 30 minutes from 11:45 - 12:15, and we would like to invite you to consider if you would like to join this new ministry. Read on for some more information!

A) What are connectors?

Connectors are people who have been filled in on the church’s ministries and events so that they can be a reference or connector for new guests on Sunday mornings. Basically, connectors are like greeters who have attended the training so that they are comfortable in answering questions about who we are as a church and how to be involved. So on Sunday mornings, before coffee time, we will ask all Connectors to stand and to let the guests know that if they have any questions about the church, they can talk to a connector during coffee or after the service. You are a friendly face to help! :)

B) Why do we need connectors?

Our church is in the great position of averaging 2 new guests a week and something like 80% of those guests return another Sunday. What this says to us is that the best thing to be done is to help our church grow is to help people connect. To help them navigate and understand how they can meet people and have quality conversations. So our connectors will just be another set of friendly faces that people can go and ask questions on Sundays!

C) What will we learn at the training?

At the training, I’ll just bring you up to speed on our ministries (Faith on Tap, Bible Study, etc.), our church structure (church staff and their responsibilities, committees, etc.) and tell you about our upcoming church orientation meeting. Basically, you'll just get a “big picture” of the church so you can be a resource for people. And if you don’t have the answer… you’ll know who to ask!

D) I’m maybe interested in helping, but not sure.

No problem! If you think you might at all be interested, come to the 30-minute training onJune 7th and see what it's all about. If you like the idea after that, let Pastor Brent know!

Parents of children of all ages (or anyone interested in youth ministries) are invited to attend a meeting to discuss plans for starting up a youth program at NHUMC!!! We will be talking about your needs and wants in a program for youth, how we can better serveYOU, the parents, as well as assessing our current programs for children. YOUR input is important and we value your ideas. The meeting will be in the Social Hall after the worship service on Sunday, May 31st. It will run from around 11:45am-1:00pm. Light snacks will be served! If you plan on attending, or have any questions, please contactAlisa!