Category: pastor’s notes

Pastor’s Notes 7/19/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Rizpah took funeral clothing and spread it out by herself on a rock. She stayed there from the beginning of the harvest until the rains poured down on the bodies from the sky, and she wouldn’t let any birds of prey land on the bodies during the day or let wild animals come at nighttime.   2 Samuel 21:10

God was moved.

Through our series of unlikely heroes, we have identified multiple instances where human response has affected God. In last week’s text, the daughters of Zelephehad changed God’s mind. In the story of Rizpah found in 2 Samuel 21:1-14 God’s heart is touched by an act of sincere devotion, love and faithfulness.’

As we will learn in greater detail on Sunday, David is ruler of Israel at the time of our story, and the land has experienced three hard years of drought. Frustrated by the notion of why, David confronts the Lord who reveals to him that it is because of former King Saul breaking covenant with the Gibeonites and putting them to death.

King David offers reparation, whether in a political gesture of good will, in pleading with God, unresolved anger towards Saul, or any other emotion that was possessing him in that moment. The request is that seven of Saul’s descendant be executed in the public square and left there, without proper burial or remembrances.

Two of the men were sons of Rizpah, who was a concubine of Saul. The most we know of her comes from her actions in this story. For several months she holds vigil by the deceased and holds all predators at bay. In this act of love, others took notice and sent word to King David about this woman’s fidelity to her children and her grief.

David has a change of heart and has the bodies of Saul, Jonathan and these 7 transferred to their family tomb and given proper burial. “After that,” reads the story, “God heeded supplications for the land.”

So… what can this mean for us today? When our hearts break, so does God’s. Honoring the dead and grieving properly is important for the people and for God. We also get a glimpse of just how strong the bond is that parents have with their children, and it brings a sense of purpose and obligation that never leaves.

God was moved. Kindness matters. The love and compassion we show to others is not only noticed, but it is infectious. I look forward to worshipping with you in person or on YouTube this Sunday!      

Brett 

Pastor’s Note: July 12, 2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

“Our father died in the wilderness; he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin, and he had no sons. Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father’s brothers.” -Numbers 27:3-4

This week we will continue our look at unlikely heroes of the Bible. These individuals are inspirational to us for often, the last thing we would consider ourselves to be is heroic or life changing. But we are called by Christ and equipped by the Holy Spirit and we are recipients of God’s grace so indeed, God’s beloved are capable of things beyond our wildest dreams.

The daughters of Zelophehad made a claim for their rightful share of property upon entering the promised land. In a collective stand of unity these five courageous sisters approach Moses, Eleazar the priest, and other leaders with a full crowd looking on and spoke they  out for what they deemed just and right. It was an unprecedented request.

As scholar Rev. Donna Owusu-Ahnsa puts it, for the daughters of Zelophehad, this was a risky move that made the first crack in the process of shattering the glass ceiling in ancient Israel. “If Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah were granted the land, their uncles would receive less property. If they were not granted the land, the sisters would be beholden to the care of those whom they had challenged.”

Moses took the matter to God directly and The Lord made a change. “The daughters of Zelophehad are right in what they are saying; you shall indeed let them possess an inheritance. . . (Numbers 17:7).

On Sunday we will explore a few key points that arise from this incredible story. 1) With courage, average folks can accomplish amazing things. 2) God is capable of change when it is warranted. 3) Justice is possible so keep in pursuit. 4) Humans are stronger together than we are on our own.

Unlikely heroes are all around us. Scratch that. Unlikely heroes are us. We are capable of life changing things when we can band together. I look forward to worshiping with you in person or on our YouTube channel as we remind ourselves of our collective purpose as disciples of Christ. 

Pastor’s Notes 7/5/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live. -Exodus 1:17

“Sun City Christian Church (DOC): Serving God and community.” This is our congregational action statement, and we will utilize it to celebrate 50 years of faithful ministry. We will also continue to live into this declaration as we turn the page onto what the next 50 years as the body of Christ might look like.

Far too often the people of God get discouraged and utter under our breath, “What difference can we make.” “We are old.” “We have nothing special to offer.” “Surely, God would prefer to use to somebody else to serve.”

The reality is that the people of Sun City Christian Church are exactly who God has in mind to love as Jesus would from our doorstep and beyond. God is using us and the gifts each of us bring matter.

Over the next few Sundays, we will study the stories of faith ancestors who could have very likely uttered similar excuses to why they too may have felt less than worthy as servants of God and community. “Unlikely Heroes” will center us around lesser-known servants who are barely mentioned by name or in a single act of faithfulness that made a significant difference to the Kingdom of God on earth.

Exodus 1:15-22 will set the tone as a handful of remarkable women were responsible for Moses to exist and survive in this world and become one of the greatest prophets God ever called. They were quick on their feet and not afraid to take a risk or to stand for what they knew to be right.  God was present with them and as a result a nation of people was saved.

We will also explore the contributions of others like us who have lived into a calling and purpose as followers of Jesus. We are making a difference as we serve God and community together! I look forward to worshipping with you Sunday in person or on our YouTube live stream.

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 6/27/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.        –Romans 8:24-25

Saint Augustine is credited with saying: “Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.”

As we conclude our series about caring for creation, we will examine the cries and sufferings of the Earth and all of God’s creatures. We will explore the need to let holy anger move us toward the courage to be hopeful and active for justice. To serve God and community, by facing the challenges of our troubled world, we must do so with hope.

Hope is a verb that requires action and intentionality on our part. According to seasonofcreation.org, hope can manifest in different ways. Hope is not merely optimism nor is it a utopian illusion or waiting for a magical miracle. Hope is trust that our action makes sense, even if the results of this action are not immediately seen.

Hope doesn’t act alone. Earlier in his letter to the Romans, Paul explains the close relationship of hope as a growth process: ‘endurance produces character, and character produces hope’ (Rom 5:4). Patience and endurance are close associates of hope. These are qualities that lead to hope.

This hope through patience and endurance will enable to us groan with creation as it suffers. We must offer not only care and compassion but solutions and action to help her renew and recover. We have been called by God to as partners in serving creation and we claim accountability for the wrongs we have done and strive to do better moving forward.

On Sunday we share aloud the Green Chalice Covenant as we moved to restore hope for and with creation:

As children of God and followers of Christ Jesus, we covenant to:

Worship God with all creation and pray for the healing of the earth.

Study the climate crisis and engage others in climate solutions.

Repent and forgive for the harm we have inflicted on the earth that sustains life.

Advocate for eco-justice public policies and witness by living sustainable lifestyles.

Rest in God’s good creation and invite others to delight in nature.

Pastor’s Notes 6/21/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Ever since the creation of the world God’s eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been seen and understood through the things God has made.
– Romans 1:20

My Grandpa Marshall wasn’t much of a church goer. He believed in God and appreciated the act of worship but sitting on wooden pews, confined indoors for an hour with a preacher “telling him what to believe” didn’t constitute a holy moment for Grandpa. Now, if we would have told him that church is sitting by a stream with a pole in hand while taking a moment to thank God for the glories of creation, he would have been a charter member out fishing every Sunday.

According to the article “Out in the Wilderness” published by the National Council of Churches Ecojustice Program (now Creation Justice Ministries), since the church’s earliest days, Christian theologians have referred to great outdoors as a source of inspiration as the Book of Nature—God’s complement to the Book of Scripture. The Book of Nature can be read anywhere, of course, but its letters can be discerned most clearly in the pristine and undisturbed quality of wilderness.

Wilderness is an essential part of the Biblical story. Wilderness areas have been home to some of the most formative events in the Bible. Moses’ call to leadership, the exodus of the Israelites, David’s character and reputation, Elijah’s prophetic vision, John the Baptist’s preparation to herald Christ, and Jesus’ testing for ministry.

Throughout time, humanity has connected with God in the wilderness. Holy encounters happen in nature. While out in God’s backyard we are not only reminded of our beloved-ness but often deepen our commitment to be in partnership as earth’s caretakers. To truly be in awe of God one simply needs to intentionally go looking for God. And as Paul notes in his letter to the church in Rome, God’s presence will be seen through all that God has made.

Join me in worship on Sunday in the chapel or on our YouTube page as we continue to explore our covenant as carers for creation. We will celebrate our wilderness stories and commit ourselves to seeing God’s handprint in all of creation with the hopes of claiming actions to become faithful stewards. 

Pastor’s Notes 6/14/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Sun City Christian Church (DOC): Celebrating 50 years of serving God and community.

What would be your action statement? What words describe you: what you are about and strive for, what you are accomplishing with your life?

According to simplestic.com, action statements are often included in resumes to describe one’s accomplishments, skills, and experience by using powerful verbs and language that help present quantifiable results.

They are statements that sum us up concisely. With few words, action statements describe who we are and what we do. As a community of faith, we use action statements to articulate our mission and vision in a simplified and tactile way.

Action statements are easy to remember yet can cover the vast and complex breadth of our calling and purpose. At the most recent meeting, our church board adopted the action statement “serving God and community” to identify who have been, who are now, and will be moving forward.

Over the next several months leading up to our grand anniversary celebration on November 3rd, we will utilize this action statement as we celebrate our 50 years in ministry together as a congregation. Watch for “Sun City Christian Church: Celebrating 50 years of serving God and community” to be on banners, our website and all the communications we share.

We are serving God and the community! I look forward to diving deeper into this covenant with you on Sunday morning. To be reminded of God’s ongoing covenant with us, and our text for Sunday, check out Genesis 9:8-17.

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 6/7/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Then God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

We are one with the earth, or in the least we should be. The stories of creation in Genesis remind us of how deeply and intricately connected all of life is. Earth sustains and fills all of creation for we are in a symbiotic relationship with all that God has made, starting with the earth itself. During the month of June we will explore our covenant with God and creation and the importance for living sustainably as a faithful response.

In an article about learning environmental responsibility from the Old Testament, Ellen F. Davis says, “Being fully human means also understanding our unbreakable bond with the land, the material base of life. One cannot go more than a few chapters in the Old Testament without seeing some vivid reference to land and its importance for humanity, beginning with the image of adam (in Hebrew meaning “man, humankind”) formed from Adamah (“soil”) in Genesis 2:7.”

In worship on Sunday, we will explore in greater detail ancient Israel’s connection with the land and the importance it played in their understanding and faith. Davis also mentioned that living into our humanity means honoring God and those who preceded us by living within the natural limits of the world, caring for the soil, and living wisely on the earth that has been left to us.

Pastor’s Notes 5/31/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind and the cattle of every kind and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let us make humans[a] in our image, according to our likeness…   – Genesis 1:25-26a

This Sunday we will begin a series reminding ourselves of our covenant with God to care for creation. Our scripture for Sunday is Genesis 1:24-27 and if we look closely at the quote above, we notice something interesting about humanity. On the day in which God created humanity, God first made cattle and wild things.

What?

I always just assumed we got our own day, ya’ know. But according to scripture humanity, made in the Holy’s likeness, was quite possibly crafted from was left after making cows… That is humbling information that I think is also telling.

Like everything else, we too are created. We have been formed and shaped and craftily knit into these complex and individually unique packages. Thank goodness God also gave us some extra parts the livestock didn’t need to be earthly companions capable of some incredible things. We do bear a role of responsibility, only we aren’t superior to creation for we too are a part of it.

We have been created. So, we are creatures, we are creations, and quite often we forget this amazing little detail in our holy DNA. Sunday we will sit with the truth that we are God’s created ones, that we are not greater than the rest of God’s making but one with it. We are formed in God’s image, crafted with other beings and so the ecological crisis the world faces is also a spiritual and religious one. We will prayerfully explore our role and responsibility as Christ’s beloved to care for God’s creation. I look forward to worshipping with you in the chapel or on livestream. 

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 5/24/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.  — Acts 2:43

Inspiration.

What inspires you?

In our worship on Sunday, Acts 2:43-47 will guide us as we explore what inspires the Church and the individuals who give it life. Last Sunday, the conversation began as the Holy Spirit provided all the inspiration necessary as we celebrated the day of Pentecost. Jesus told his disciples that they would not be alone in their journey to love after Jesus left this earth. The Holy Spirit is the advocate that continues to breathe life into the followers of Jesus.

The day of Pentecost was newly behind the people but the crowd of followers has grown to 3000 baptized. The church is taking shape. Awe and wonder are filling not only the new disciples but the original group as well. The term apostle identifies those who walked with Jesus, following his resurrection and ascension. They continue to follow the way of Jesus but now are doing amazing things in his name. The apostles are the living witness and the promise of new life spreads.

The movement of the Holy Spirit was infectious, and the people were coming together for worship, service, study, and prayer. They were serving the “least of these” and were sharing all things in common with each other. They had found a vision, purpose, and plan for extending the love of God to others. More importantly, they were living out the faith.

I look forward to digging deeper into our inspirations and sharing our vision to love like Christ in Sun City! See you in person or online through You Tube or playback later through our website.

Pastor’s Notes: May 17, 2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

The premise that Jesus seemed to teach from was: Tell them, then tell them what you told them. Once you have told them, then explain it to them before showing and telling them again.

Well, the time for all of that is behind him. Last Sunday we read where Jesus revealed that the Holy Spirit has come upon his followers and that they will be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. He said this then ascended to the heavens. This was his final earthly encountered with his beloved.

In Acts 2:1-21, for Sunday, Luke gives us the story of Pentecost. Jesus’ disciples didn’t have to wait very long for this gift of the Holy Spirit to breathe upon them like a mighty wind with tongues of flame dancing about their heads.

They were able to express the good news of God in the languages of the foreigners who happened upon the house where they were. This truly miraculous and God inspired moment sets the stage for the birth of the church and the amazing ministry the followers of Jesus, throughout the ages, would embark upon.

The Holy Spirit is still with us as Sun City Christian Church continues to share the good news of the resurrection Promise to our neighborhood and beyond. I look forward to worshipping with you in person or over Facebook Live Sunday as we celebrate Christ with us. Wear red (orange and yellow works too) and come be moved by the Spirit!