Author: Rev. Wells

Pastor of Lakewood United Church of Christ since 1991. Graduate of Wellesley College and Union Theological Seminary of New York.

Sermon text 2.2.25 “Do Whatever He Tells You”

LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
2601 54th Avenue South  St. Petersburg, FL  33712
On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga
727-867-7961
lakewooducc.org
lakewooducc@gmail.com

Date: February 2, 2025  
Scripture Lessons:  1 Corinthians 13:1-13 and John 2:1-11
Sermon:  “Do Whatever He Tells You”Pastor: Rev. Kim P. Wells

We begin with a poem from Walt Whitman, quintessential American poet of the 19th century:

            . . . I know nothing else but miracles,
Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,
Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,
Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water,
Or stand under trees in the woods,
Or talk by day with any one I love, or sleep in bed at night
        with anyone I love,
Or sit at table at dinner with the rest,
Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car,
Or watch honey-bees busy around the hive of a summer forenoon,
Or animals feeding in the fields,
Or birds, or the wonderfulness of insects in the air,
Or the exquisite delicate thin curve of the new moon in spring.
These with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles,
The whole referring, yet each distinct and in its place.

To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle,
Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with miracles,
Every foot of the interior swarms with miracles.

This is the reality of Divine Love.   Seeing the miracles of Divine Love in all of Creation and all of our human experience – exquisite and excruciating.  Life is a sacred gift and we are here to relish it all!

This morning we heard the story of Jesus changing water into wine at the wedding in Cana.  This is Jesus’ first splashy public act of ministry in the gospel of John.  As we heard last week, in the gospel of Luke Jesus begins his ministry with a prophetic sermon that ends with the people trying to chase him over a cliff.  (National Cathedral Bishop Budde is in good company.)   But in the gospel of John, Jesus’ ministry begins with the wedding in Cana.  A celebration of love that involves the whole community and goes on for up to 7 days.  A scene where Jesus’ mother sees the need and encourages her son, as she has been doing, no doubt, for his whole life.  A story that tells of wine flowing in abundance beyond all expectations.  Wine that is finer than anyone has tasted in the past. 

All of this points to the immeasurable love of God, which God is continuously trying to bestow upon us.  This story shows us the intentions of God.  God wants more for us than we could ask for or imagine.  Our highest good.  Our best interests.  Fully experiencing the wonder, awe, intensity, inanity, richness, and delight of this life.  And this all stems from the power of love that is at the heart of reality. 

Have you seen the yard sign in the median between Publix and Walgreens here on 54th Avenue South?  The yellow sign declares:  Love is my main ingredient.  God.  The New Testament Bible.  That says it all:  Love is my main ingredient.

We are so loved, God wants more for us than we could ever conceive.  And Jesus shows us how to tap into that love.  Love that is more powerful than solar energy, or atomic energy, or wind energy.  More powerful than the human intellect and the wisdom of animals and plants and Creation.  More powerful certainly than hatred, apathy, or death.  More powerful than all of that, is LOVE.  Jesus shows us how to live from that love; how to unleash that power in our lives and the life of the world.   He shows us how not only to see the miracle but to be the miracle.  To live from that core of love, that image of Godness, that is within each of us. 

The best wine fills the stone jars to overflowing.

Romano Guardini, 20th century priest and philosopher, says this about the imagery of wine:  “The purpose of wine is not only to quench thirst, but also to give pleasure and satisfaction and exhilaration.  . . . This wine bestows courage, joy out of all earthly measure, sweetness, beauty, limitless enlargement and perception.  It brings life in intoxicating excess, both to possess and to impart.” 

This is the life that is being offered to us. This morning we also heard the beautiful hymn to love from Corinthians.  What love is and what love is not. 

But let’s take a step back.  This hymn of praise to love, this beautiful exposition on the nature of love – why is it included here in this letter to the faith community at Corinth?  Well, because they are quarreling.  They are divided and competing. They are trying to impose hierarchy in the community.  They are giving more status to some rather than others.  They are enmeshed in lust for power, egotism, and desire for dominance.  This is undermining the beloved community that is to be realized by those who follow Jesus.  So they are given careful instruction about the nature of love because they have lost their way.

Yes, love is this amazing gift, this power, that we are being given all the time, to help us navigate the twisted paths of life with joy and authenticity.  But do we tap into this power?  Do we partake of this wine freely given?  Divine Love is showering us, drenching us, but do we avoid it, ignore it, suppress it?  To tap into love involves choosing love.  It involves intentionality and discipline. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke frankly about the rigors of love:

Then the Greek language has another word for love, and that is the word “agape.”  Agape is more than romantic love, it is more than friendship.  Agape is understanding, creative, redemptive good will toward all men [sic].  Agape is an overflowing love which seeks nothing in return.  Theologians would say that it is the love of God, operating in the human heart.  When you rise to love on this level, you love all men [sic] not because you like them, not because their ways appeal to you, but you love them because God loves them.  This is what Jesus meant when he said, “Love your enemies.”  And I’m happy that he didn’t’ say, “Like your enemies,” because there are some people that I find it pretty difficult to like.  Liking is an affectionate emotion, and I can’t like anybody who would bomb my home.  I can’t like anybody who would exploit me.  I can’t like anybody who would trample over me with injustices.  I can’t like them.  I can’t like anybody who threatens to kill me day in and day out.  But Jesus reminds us that love is greater than liking.  Love is understanding, creative, redemptive goodwill toward all men [sic].  . . .  

Bomb our homes and threaten ourchildren, and, as difficult as it is, we will still love you.  Send your hooded perpetrators of violence into our communities at the midnight hour and drag us out on some wayside road and leave us half-dead as you beat us, and we will still love you.  Send your propaganda agents around the country, and make it appear that we are not fit, culturally and otherwise, for integration, and we’ll still love you.  But be assured that we’ll wear you down by our capacity to suffer, and one day we will win our freedom.  We will not only win freedom for ourselves; we will so appeal to your heart and conscience that we will win you in the process, and our victory will be a double victory. 

           [Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., from “A Christmas Sermon on Peace”                       delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta.]

Yes, the power of love is available to us; it is being given to us.  And we are given the church to help us appreciate the gift, celebrate the power, and cultivate the inclination to choose love, even for our enemies.  We have each other for encouragement and support and celebration. 

In the story of the wedding at Cana, Jesus’ mother tells the servants, Do whatever he tells you.  We see Mary bestowing confidence and support upon Jesus so that he can share God’s expansive, abundant, profligate love with the world.

We are here to share that confidence and support and encouragement with one another.  We are here to tell each other: Do whatever Jesus tells you to do.  Choose love.  Of yourself.  Others.  Neighbors near and far.  And enemies.  Love.  In word and deed.  Take extraordinary action.  Defy expectations.  For the good of the world and for our own good. 

Frederick Buechner, 20th century theologian and writer has this to say about engaging with Divine Love:

Who knows how the awareness of God’s love first hits people?  Every person has his own tale to tell, including the person who would not believe in God if you paid him.  Some moment happens in your life that makes you say Yes right up to the roots of your hair, that makes it worth having been born just to have happen.  Laughing with somebody till the tears run down your cheeks.  Waking up to the first snow.  Being in bed with somebody you love.  Whether you thank God for such a moment or thank your lucky stars, it is a moment that is trying to open up your whole life.  If you try to turn your back on such a moment and hurry along to Business as Usual, it may lose you the whole ball game.  If you throw your arms around such a moment and hug it like crazy, it may save your soul.  How about the person you know who as far as you can possibly tell has never had such a moment?  Maybe for that person the moment that has to happen is you. 

In a world beset with jealousy, greed, prejudice and hate.  In a world that turns a blind eye to suffering, to injustice, to poverty, to climate change.  In a world where leaders are more concerned with their own image than with the well being of the populace or the planet.  In a world cultivating billionaires and seeding poverty – the power of Divine Love is desperately needed.  Love is the source of our joy and wonder and delight in life.  It is the source of our power for good and for healing.  We know this love.  This is what has drawn us to Jesus and to his church and to each other.  This is the love we are to encourage in one another. 

May we listen to Mary and do what Jesus tells us to do.  Love!  The results will astound. 

Amen.

Sermon text 1.5.25 “Another Way”

LAKEWOOD/TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
2601 54th Avenue South  St. Petersburg, FL  33712
On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga
727-867-7961
lakewooducc.org
lakewooducc@gmail.com

Date: January 5, 2025    Epiphany! 
Scripture Lesson:Matthew 2:1-12
Sermon:  Another Way
Pastor: Rev. Kim P. Wells

This morning we heard about astrologers from the east, maybe Persia, following a star to the province of Judea.  They are looking for a king.  A newborn king.  So, they consult the current king about the whereabouts of the newborn king.  Sounds reasonable.  Unless the king is Herod, or another monarch or authoritarian ruler, who is power hungry and corrupt. 

The magi consulted Herod son of Antipater, procurator of Judea under Julius Caesar.  King under Augustus Caesar.  Also known as Herod the Great.  He ruled from 37 BCE to 4 BCE.  We don’t want to confuse him with Herod Antipas, his son, tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea, who was involved with the beheading of John the Baptizer and the conviction of Jesus leading to the crucifixion.  No, the gospel of Matthew starts with Herod the Great.  And he was great.  Great at being a menace.  A threatening, violent, insecure terror.   Everyone was deathly afraid of him.  He was great at building projects including rebuilding the Second Temple in Jerusalem at twice its original size and building 5 fortresses for refuge for himself and his family.  He had a great secret police and a personal guard of 2000 soldiers.  He was great at extorting money from his poor subjects, his own Jewish people, whom he impoverished with his building projects.  He was great in that he had 3 of his sons killed.  And he may be considered great in that he was eventually executed by members of his own family including his wife.  Oh he was great in many ways, but he was not good.   In the story we heard today, when those astrologers appear at Herod’s court and he consults his advisors, you can bet those advisors are quaking in their boots. They had to say just the right thing or they would be done for, and maybe the astrologers, too.  This was rule by intimidation, fear, and violence. 

In the aftermath of the magi’s visit to Herod, we are told the story of the slaughter of the innocents.  The babies in the vicinity of Bethlehem are killed to prevent the encroachment of this newborn king upon Herod’s power.  Herod is going to nip that in the bud.  This leads to the flight of the holy family to Egypt for safety.  Some of these stories are reminiscent of the stories of Moses.  This is because the writer of the gospel of Matthew wants to portray Jesus as a prophet in the line of Moses only greater. 

Herod represents the ways of the world.  Wielding power by fear and force.  Imposing rule by threat and intimidation.  We still see this today in many countries, including, sometimes, our own.

We are coming upon the anniversary of the January 6 insurrection which was an attempt to thwart the workings of the US Congress.  This mob attack was right in keeping with initiatives throughout the ages to unseat those who are in power and to impose new rulers.  This happens again and again in history.  People seek to impose their way on others through violence, intimidation, and fear.  It can be a one on one situation or a societal power play. 

Now, let’s notice something about the story we heard today.  The astrologers visit Jerusalem.  Doubtless in the camel barn or at the inn or in a cafe, they were told about Herod.  His evil violent nature.  His lust for power.  His oppression of the populace as well as his advisors and minions.  So these astrologers have been warned about Herod.  They know he is a bad guy. 

So, do the astrologers foment a rebellion against Herod?  Do they pull together a militia to take Herod down?  Do they return to their countries and amass an army to come to the defense of the Judeans being extorted and intimidated by Herod.  No. 

We are told that after their encounter with Herod and then Jesus and the Holy Family, they go home another way.  By another route.  To encounter Jesus is to be changed.  To be redirected.  To be rewired.  Re-oriented.  They are no longer the same.  While they may have had the inclination to confront the violence of Herod with further violence, this is no longer the case after their encounter with Jesus.  This newborn king inspires peace on earth, goodwill to all.  Transformation and change, liberation and justice are on the horizon, but they will not come to fruition through more violence and death.  It will have to happen another way.

As we head into this New Year, there are many challenges that will confront us.  Some of us are scared.  Some feel betrayed.  Some feel threatened.  Some of us are numb from all the trauma. 

The message of Christmas is that there is another way.  Love and peace can prevail.  Through commitment and creativity, new methods and strategies and tactics can emerge to alter reality.  The story of the magi tells us that there is another way.  We can encounter the Christ and be changed.  We do not have to keep losing the same losing game.  We, too, can go home another way.  Amen.

A reasonable effort has been made to appropriately cite materials referenced in this sermon. For additional information, please contact Lakewood United Church of Christ.

Lent Devotion 25

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The two congregations worship at Lakewood on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. 
All are welcome!

This past week, we have been thinking about those who are Muslim starting the holy season of Ramadan.  In Islam, there is reference to the 99 names for God.  Some of the names are:  God the Merciful, the Compassionate, the Peaceful, the Faithful, the Tolerant.  There are many beautiful ways of naming and thus describing God.
In the Jewish tradition, there is the custom of not saying the name of God out loud.  The four letters used to denote God, YHWH, are all consonants so technically the word is unpronounceable.   So, there is a tradition of not saying the name of God in Judaism.
In Christianity, we seem to embrace both of these approaches.  We try to affirm the mystery and inscrutability of God.  And, like our tradition of Jesus, we try to name God and call upon God like an abba, a daddy.
In his time in the desert, Alesandro Pronzato came up with another name to add to the list of names for God:  “God the Difficult.”  Maybe we know about that God, too!
Our tradition teaches that naming has power.  When you give something a name, in a way, you claim it.  And you create a way to influence or control it.  Also, depending on what the name is, you may also be defining the thing.  So naming has power.
During the sacrament of baptism, the child or adult is named.  Given a name, an identity, a way of being claimed by God through the church.  There is power in that naming.
Given the contention between people of differing religions today, and the continuing unfolding of scientific knowledge which influences our conceptions of God, I am wondering about abandoning the naming of God enterprise.  What about a non-anthropomorphic God and a non-anthropocentric Christianity added to the mix?  Maybe the less we make God like us and about us, the more we will live into the image-of-Godness within us – a force for love, never fully understood.  In love with all of Creation.
Note:  The Lenten meditations for 2024 are written by Kim Wells and inspired by themes in the book Meditations on the Sand by Alesandro Pronzato written in 1981.
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Lent Devotion 22

View this email in your browserThe two congregations worship at Lakewood on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. 
All are welcome!Lent

It’s hard to keep up in today’s world even on something as simple as the news let alone the laundry!  And then there are relationships which take time and energy.  And holidays.  And dealing with the healthcare system.  I have been trying to get a prescription for an inhaler since January.  Well, you know.
When we went on the Camino de Santiago for the first time which involved 33 days of walking, I did not have a smart phone.  I did not take a phone.  That was 2012.  When we went on the Camino in 2017, I did have a smart phone.  And we sent a picture to our kids every day so they would not worry about us.  And when we did the Camino in 2022 and walked for 6 weeks, we had our phones but tried to only use them for pictures and needed arrangements and information.  But what you discover, when you attempt to ‘unplug’ for a month or more, is that the world goes right on turning without you.  And when you plug in again, it is all right there waiting for you as if you had never left.  Really, no one, except maybe your family and your friends and your church, misses you.
Busy as we are, and the messaging that makes us think being busy makes us important, it’s bosh.  And prayer can remind us of this.  Opening ourselves to a power beyond and within us can restore our perspective on our importance.  And it can be, well, amusing.  And, hopefully, we can laugh.
Alesandro Pronzato, in his book Meditations on the Sand, tells us:  “Among the fruits of prayer there is one which, to my knowledge, is not recorded in standard books on prayer.  It is laughter.”   I think Pronzato is right.  We don’t usually associate prayer with laughter.  But we should.  Pronzato offers this litany of the funny side of prayer.
I laugh because I take myself too seriously. I laugh because I believe that I am the centre of the world. I laugh because I think everything depends on me. I laugh because I am so inconsistent. I laugh because I presume to advise God. I laugh because I am worried about my reputation. I laugh because I discover the truth about myself.
Surely you can find yourself somewhere in that litany.  So, take the opportunity to laugh when you pray today and everyday!
Note:  The Lenten meditations for 2024 are written by Kim Wells and inspired by themes in the book Meditations on the Sand by Alesandro Pronzato written in 1981.

Lent Devotion 21

View this email in your browserThe two congregations worship at Lakewood on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. 
All are welcome!Lent

This devotion is intended for March 8. International Women’s Day. Maybe you have gotten some emails about special sales on things for women? That is extremely ironic given that International Women’s Day has its roots in the socialist movement.
And why is there an International Women’s Day? The same reason there is Black History Month and Native American Heritage Month. You get a day or a month when you have been cheated, mistreated, lied to, or taken advantage of. International Women’s Day is to highlight that women are economically disadvantaged, still second class, and still having their rights to health care attacked and besieged. The temptation is to buy a new dress or a new set of sheets and forget about the rest.
When it comes to prayer, sometimes we first don’t want to see the reality of what is surfacing. And then, we don’t really want to see the problems fixed. That’s too much change. Won’t a quick makeover do?
In his book, Meditations on the Sand, Alesandro Pronzato points out the difference between God the creator and God the decorator. He says: “However, I have since realised that prayer is never a matter of repairing and retouching. If you decide to subject yourself to the purifying action of prayer, you must be prepared for some merciless, devastating work of demolition. And if you allow God freedom of action in prayer, you can expect to be transformed beyond recognition. God does not use plaster and varnish; he [sic] awaits you with the scalpel and the cautery.”
International Women’s Day. It is not about a new nail color. Or being able to run for president. It’s about eliminating patriarchy and creating egalitarian community that includes everyone. It’s not about running for president. It’s about getting elected president. We still live in a country marred by sexism and sexist stereotypes. As one of our church elders declared at an Ash Wednesday service, “I am fired up about the war on women.”
So, forgive me if I don’t wish you a Happy International Women’s Day. As Jesus followers, trying to submit ourselves fully to the forces of Divine Love, may we pray for the elimination of International Women’s Day; for the day when it will not be needed because patriarchy will not have just been painted over but dismantled and replaced altogether with Beloved Community.
Note: The Lenten meditations for 2024 are written by Kim Wells and inspired by themes in the book Meditations on the Sand by Alesandro Pronzato written in 1981.d class, and still having their rights to health care attacked and besieged.  The temptation is to buy a new dress or a new set of sheets and forget about the rest.
When it comes to prayer, sometimes we first don’t want to see the reality of what is surfacing.  And then, we don’t really want to see the problems fixed.  That’s too much change.  Won’t a quick makeover do?
In his book, Meditations on the Sand, Alesandro Pronzato points out the difference between God the creator and God the decorator.  He says:  “However, I have since realised that prayer is never a matter of repairing and retouching.  If you decide to subject yourself to the purifying action of prayer, you must be prepared for some merciless, devastating work of demolition.  And if you allow God freedom of action in prayer, you can expect to be transformed beyond recognition.  God does not use plaster and varnish; he [sic] awaits you with the scalpel and the cautery.”
International Women’s Day.  It is not about a new nail color.  Or being able to run for president.  It’s about eliminating patriarchy and creating egalitarian community that includes everyone.  It’s not about running for president.  It’s about getting elected president.  We still live in a country marred by sexism and sexist stereotypes.  As one of our church elders declared at an Ash Wednesday service, “I am fired up about the war on women.”
So, forgive me if I don’t wish you a Happy International Women’s Day.  As Jesus followers, trying to submit ourselves fully to the forces of Divine Love, may we pray for the elimination of International Women’s Day; for the day when it will not be needed because patriarchy will not have just been painted over but dismantled and replaced altogether with Beloved Community.
Note:  The Lenten meditations for 2024 are written by Kim Wells and inspired by themes in the book Meditations on the Sand by Alesandro Pronzato written in 1981.