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On a car ride home from school last week, our high school senior son explained that one of his friends made the case that most important issue that needed attention in the world today is sexism or the devalued status of women. The friend claimed that if that problem were addressed, many other social and economic problems would be resolved. Yes! That idea is not new but I was heartened to hear that a high schooler had come to that conclusion “on her own” and I was delighted to hear my son say that he thought this view had validity. (I also reminded him that I have preached a sermon on that very topic.)

In an interview I listened to this week with an author who has written a book about the passage of the Civil Rights legislation in the 60’S, there was mention of how someone on a committee in the legislative process tacked on an equal pay for women clause thinking it would kill the bill which he did not want to see passed. In the end, to his dismay, this legislator ended up helping to give women equal rights.

I thought about this. Would adding a provision ensuring equal rights for women prevent the passage of legislation today? It’s hard to say which is an unfortunate state of affairs.

I also heard an interview with someone from Africa where women have equal rights and are amply represented in government. When asked about this the African explained that their country faced so many problems, they needed everyone working together helping to resolve them.

While most of us would absolutely agree that men and women are entitled to equal rights are we aware of how much still needs to be done? I hear from women regularly who feel they are treated as “less than” in the work place because they are women and not men. It’s hard to imagine. How do things stand in the church? Well, there’s the Catholic church and the male priesthood. But that is not the end of the story. I got a flyer in the mail recently about a church conference in Orlando. The flyer shows a picture of a huge sanctuary filled with thousands of people. And at the podium? A man. Then there are pictures of the 9 presenters with their bios. All men. And all white but one. They may be wonderful people gifted for ministry. But I can’t believe that the church is intended to function with limited leadership from just one of the two genders. The BaHai religion teaches that male and female are like the two wings of a bird. Both are needed to fly. Maybe if we eliminated gender bias in the church, fully and completely, we would resolve many of the problems that the church is facing.

This morning, thousands of church goers, men and women, heard the story of the raising of Lazarus from the Gospel of John. After Lazarus comes out of the grave, Jesus instructs, “Unbind him, and let him go.” [John 11:44] Imagine what the church would be like unbound from all prejudice and bias, released, and freed to serve the needs of the world.

This Lenten season invites us, women and men alike, to consider how we explicitly or implicitly contribute to the perpetuation of gender bias. It is impossible to live in this culture and not absorb something of gender bias. But we can examine ourselves and look for it so that we can then honestly address ourselves to pursing equality. The church and the world need for us to be unbound from sexism so that we can be agents of equality in the wider world.

Prayer: We all harbor prejudices and biases. We pray to be unbound from these attitudes which diminish the value of others. We regret the ways that gender bias deprives the church and the world of benefitting fully from the gifts and graces that God has given women to offer to the world. We pray to be unbound and freed. Amen.

Once upon a time, people looked forward to market day as a time to see friends, catch up on the news, and enjoy a change of pace. There may have been selling of extra produce or other items. There may have been some buying of things needed. But whether or not it was financially profitable, market day was a day to look forward to.

Saturday was the first market day for the Skyway Community Market at Lakewood United Church of Christ. This endeavor has been under discussion on and off for several years at the church. After much planning and preparation, the market launched. We had hoped to start with 10 vendors but had 4. The produce vendor who had committed months ago ended up needing to bow out earlier this week. So, the church staffed the produce booth. Thank you, Jeff Wells! It was a “soft” start. How would this go? How would we feel about it?

Here’s my take on the day. The barbecue vendor sold out of ribs and chicken. The plant vendor and supplements vendor were happy to be there and will be back. People were enthusiastic about recruiting additional vendors. There were customers steadily coming and going all day. There seemed to be a good mix of people reflecting the neighborhood. Ed Helm saw to Mark Twain’s appearance and Denise Williams was the troubadour enchanting us with her songs. There were caterpillars and spiders and Spanish moss and sticks to amuse the children who were there. The warm sun and steady breeze made it a pleasure to be outside soaking in the glories of spring. Did we make a lot of money? I don’t think so. Was it a wonderful event? Absolutely.

It was a delight to spend the day with old friends and meet new friends. The day was gorgeous. (Being at the market was certainly better than staying inside and cleaning all day which is what I would have been doing. . .) The spirit was positive. Everyone seemed glad to have come and willing to return. The church people who were there enjoyed being with each other and getting better acquainted. There was a wonderful sense of community and possibility.

And isn’t that what the church is about, anyway? Community and possibility? The church is a community of solidarity and shared values. It is a gathering of people who are willing to be involved in one another’s lives sharing joys and struggles. It’s people you know you can count on whether you know them well or not, simply because it is the church. And the church is about possibility. What can be. What could be. What will be. For us as individuals, encouraging us to become our best selves. And for the community and the wider world. Helping the world more closely reflect the hopes and dreams of God.

The market was a beautiful day of bringing people together to create community and celebrate possibility. So even though it was a “market” it felt like we were being the church in the community. Taking the church beyond the sanctuary. Evidently LUCC has been called to this new venture. Who knows what may be in store!

Prayer: We are grateful for the bounty of the earth enjoyed on a glorious day. We are grateful for the sharing of stories, songs, and resources. While so often busyness and fear separate us from others we are thankful for the opportunity to be a community of solidarity for one another. May we take the community of Christ out beyond the walls of the church into a world which is obsessed with individualism and divided by fear. May we be a truly welcoming community to all. Amen.

There are lots of pictures of the opening day of the Skyway Community Market at the church website. Enjoy!