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WOMEN IN THE BIBLE
SEPT 9 - DEC 24, 2018
December 24, 2018 -- CHRISTMAS EVE
Women of the Bible
Mother Mary - Jesus and Mary: What Has Been Revealed Unto Us?
Tonight is Christmas Eve, and we celebrated with much music, prayer, readings and fellowship. It was a full house, and if you weren't able to be there, I have put the entire service below for you to listen.
Enjoy! May the presence of the Christ Jesus be with you throughout the coming year.
Peace and grace to all!
Pastor Seth
Women of the Bible
Mother Mary - Jesus and Mary: What Has Been Revealed Unto Us?
Tonight is Christmas Eve, and we celebrated with much music, prayer, readings and fellowship. It was a full house, and if you weren't able to be there, I have put the entire service below for you to listen.
Enjoy! May the presence of the Christ Jesus be with you throughout the coming year.
Peace and grace to all!
Pastor Seth
December 23, 2018 -- ADVENT 4
Elizabeth - Welcoming the Welcoming of the Christ
Scripture: Luke 1
Elizabeth brings us into the New Testament and she echoes many of the themes we have already heard in our women of the Hebrew Testament. Elizabeth emphasizes an approach to the coming of the Christ on this last Sunday of Advent that requires continual humility, ever-present curiosity, and an openness to being taken in by the wonder of God and creation. This also means we must know what we know and be aware there is much that is unknown, and that is not a threat.
Enjoy the PDF and the audio!
Peace and grace! Pastor Seth
Elizabeth - Welcoming the Welcoming of the Christ
Scripture: Luke 1
Elizabeth brings us into the New Testament and she echoes many of the themes we have already heard in our women of the Hebrew Testament. Elizabeth emphasizes an approach to the coming of the Christ on this last Sunday of Advent that requires continual humility, ever-present curiosity, and an openness to being taken in by the wonder of God and creation. This also means we must know what we know and be aware there is much that is unknown, and that is not a threat.
Enjoy the PDF and the audio!
Peace and grace! Pastor Seth
December 16, 2018 - ADVENT 3
Gomer - Intimacy, Broken and Restored
Scripture: Hosea 1-2
Gomer takes some heavy hits in commentaries about her in Scripture. Even though Scripture never refers to her as a prostitute, she is called one. Hosea, speaking for God, calls her a whore, though. Who talks to and about someone else like this? I am not sure. But I think the entrance to understanding what this is all about is framing it around what intimacy is and what it means to us and God.
Only audio this week.
Be sure to join us on Christmas Eve at 6PM!
Peace and grace to you!
Pastor Seth
Gomer - Intimacy, Broken and Restored
Scripture: Hosea 1-2
Gomer takes some heavy hits in commentaries about her in Scripture. Even though Scripture never refers to her as a prostitute, she is called one. Hosea, speaking for God, calls her a whore, though. Who talks to and about someone else like this? I am not sure. But I think the entrance to understanding what this is all about is framing it around what intimacy is and what it means to us and God.
Only audio this week.
Be sure to join us on Christmas Eve at 6PM!
Peace and grace to you!
Pastor Seth
December 9, 2018 - ADVENT 2
Esther - Confronting Hate and Convincing Kings
Scripture: The Book of Esther
The Book of Esther is one of my favorites in all of Scripture. It is an amazing story, and is the foundation for the celebration of Purim in the Jewish tradition. Hatred and empires are front and center here, and Esther provides a strong statement on how a single person can change the direction of an entire kingdom. There are allusions and symbols throughout the story that point us backward toward Exodus and forward to Jesus Christ. But at no time, in no part of the story, is God ever mentioned.
Enjoy the PDF above and the audio down here.
Peace and grace to all!
Pastor Seth
Esther - Confronting Hate and Convincing Kings
Scripture: The Book of Esther
The Book of Esther is one of my favorites in all of Scripture. It is an amazing story, and is the foundation for the celebration of Purim in the Jewish tradition. Hatred and empires are front and center here, and Esther provides a strong statement on how a single person can change the direction of an entire kingdom. There are allusions and symbols throughout the story that point us backward toward Exodus and forward to Jesus Christ. But at no time, in no part of the story, is God ever mentioned.
Enjoy the PDF above and the audio down here.
Peace and grace to all!
Pastor Seth
December 2, 2018 - ADVENT 1
Bathsheba - Seduction! Infidelity! Power! Kings!
2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Kings 1
Bathsheba is the mother of kings. Her reputation over the centuries has taken a beating - she is either a victim, or she is a seductress who leads David, the chosen of God, astray. Perhaps, Bathsheba was a very intelligent, capable, and self-sufficient human being with access and knowledge of how power worked in her day and age. Maybe the problem has nothing to do with her, but everything to do with kings and power.
Today, I just have the audio posted below.
Enjoy!
Pastor Seth
Bathsheba - Seduction! Infidelity! Power! Kings!
2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Kings 1
Bathsheba is the mother of kings. Her reputation over the centuries has taken a beating - she is either a victim, or she is a seductress who leads David, the chosen of God, astray. Perhaps, Bathsheba was a very intelligent, capable, and self-sufficient human being with access and knowledge of how power worked in her day and age. Maybe the problem has nothing to do with her, but everything to do with kings and power.
Today, I just have the audio posted below.
Enjoy!
Pastor Seth
November 25, 2018
Hannah: Giving Over To God What Matters Most
1 Samuel 1-2
Hannah is the mother of a prophet and priest, and also a prophet herself.
In a dark and chaotic time, Hannah sees the situation and the need for her people, and prays that she may bear a son that the Lord can guide for the sake of Israel. Samuel is that son.
Once we hear this story, we can hear how it resonates like a tuning fork all the way into the New Testament. Hannah becomes a pattern for Mother Mary.
Peace to all! Pastor Seth
Enjoy the audio and the PDF!
Hannah: Giving Over To God What Matters Most
1 Samuel 1-2
Hannah is the mother of a prophet and priest, and also a prophet herself.
In a dark and chaotic time, Hannah sees the situation and the need for her people, and prays that she may bear a son that the Lord can guide for the sake of Israel. Samuel is that son.
Once we hear this story, we can hear how it resonates like a tuning fork all the way into the New Testament. Hannah becomes a pattern for Mother Mary.
Peace to all! Pastor Seth
Enjoy the audio and the PDF!
November 18, 2018
Ruth: Arranging the Future for a Better Future
Ruth 1-4
Ruth is another woman who shows up in Jesus' lineage. Between Jesus and Ruth, both of them put to rest one of the biggest illusions we seem to have created in Western Christianity:
If I just wait and be passive and know I am faithful, God will bring to me what I need.
I have put up the whole service because it was Choir Sunday and I wanted to hear the excellent work our choir has done this season. The PDF for the sermon is above.
Peace and grace to all!
And Happy Thanksgiving!
Pastor Seth
Ruth: Arranging the Future for a Better Future
Ruth 1-4
Ruth is another woman who shows up in Jesus' lineage. Between Jesus and Ruth, both of them put to rest one of the biggest illusions we seem to have created in Western Christianity:
If I just wait and be passive and know I am faithful, God will bring to me what I need.
I have put up the whole service because it was Choir Sunday and I wanted to hear the excellent work our choir has done this season. The PDF for the sermon is above.
Peace and grace to all!
And Happy Thanksgiving!
Pastor Seth
November 11, 2018
Deborah: Leading With the Heart of a Poet
Scripture: Judges 4-5
Deborah is the only person in Scripture who was a Judge, a Prophet, and a Military Leader. Why does Scripture continually put women in unusual positions of power, leadership, and history? Could it be that the radical message of all of Scripture and especially Jesus Christ is shown as much through them as through all the men we talk about. In fact, Scripture becomes even more radical when we see through the lens of women.
Deborah is a model of Godly leadership and what it is meant to look like.
Just audio this week.
Peace and grace to all!
Pastor Seth
Deborah: Leading With the Heart of a Poet
Scripture: Judges 4-5
Deborah is the only person in Scripture who was a Judge, a Prophet, and a Military Leader. Why does Scripture continually put women in unusual positions of power, leadership, and history? Could it be that the radical message of all of Scripture and especially Jesus Christ is shown as much through them as through all the men we talk about. In fact, Scripture becomes even more radical when we see through the lens of women.
Deborah is a model of Godly leadership and what it is meant to look like.
Just audio this week.
Peace and grace to all!
Pastor Seth
November 4, 2018
Rahab: The Art of the Deal
Scripture: Joshua 2:1-15, 20-21; 6:17-25
Rahab is considered one of the matriarchs of Israel. She is said to be the mother and grandmother of five prophets, including Jeremiah. Rahab was also a prostitute who lived in the wall of Jericho, right by the city gate. And, Rahab is listed in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, which means her story has direct meaning for how we understand Jesus.
This morning, we also had the pleasure of welcoming Holly Clough to our service.
She sang a couple songs for us and I have included them in the audio below.
Please check her out at her website: https://www.hollyclough.com.
She has a new album coming out in 2019!
Enjoy the audio and the PDF!
Peace to you!
Pastor Seth
Rahab: The Art of the Deal
Scripture: Joshua 2:1-15, 20-21; 6:17-25
Rahab is considered one of the matriarchs of Israel. She is said to be the mother and grandmother of five prophets, including Jeremiah. Rahab was also a prostitute who lived in the wall of Jericho, right by the city gate. And, Rahab is listed in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, which means her story has direct meaning for how we understand Jesus.
This morning, we also had the pleasure of welcoming Holly Clough to our service.
She sang a couple songs for us and I have included them in the audio below.
Please check her out at her website: https://www.hollyclough.com.
She has a new album coming out in 2019!
Enjoy the audio and the PDF!
Peace to you!
Pastor Seth
October 28, 2018
Miriam: The First Prophet
Scripture: Exodus 2:1-4, 15:19-21; Numbers 12:1-16, 20:1
Miriam is considered one of the leaders of Israel, since she is out in front with her brothers, Moses and Aaron, throughout Exodus. Miriam is also the first person to be named a prophet in Scripture. She is held in very high regard in the Jewish faith, and she lays the pathway that Jesus walks much later.
On Saturday, October 27th, a man walked into Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and killed 11 worshipers, because they were Jews. The Jewish people have dealt with tragedy like this for millennia, and it is as horrible now as it was 70 years ago, 250 years ago, 1100 years ago, 2000 years ago, or 2800 years ago. The Jewish people are resilient and are the foundation of our faith, and they - no one, for that matter - never deserve the antisemitism, the 'othering', that has continually been put upon them.
And so, today we celebrate with Miriam and the women and the men the escape from another persecution many, many years ago. In honor and in memory of the 11 who died in Pittsburgh, we dedicated our worship to them and to the God who frees and rescues all of us from persecution and hate.
We sang the Ashira L'Adonai, the oldest hymn in the Judeo-Christian tradition, at the end of the service, and I have included that as well in the recording.
Peace and grace to all, and especially to Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Pastor Seth
Miriam: The First Prophet
Scripture: Exodus 2:1-4, 15:19-21; Numbers 12:1-16, 20:1
Miriam is considered one of the leaders of Israel, since she is out in front with her brothers, Moses and Aaron, throughout Exodus. Miriam is also the first person to be named a prophet in Scripture. She is held in very high regard in the Jewish faith, and she lays the pathway that Jesus walks much later.
On Saturday, October 27th, a man walked into Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and killed 11 worshipers, because they were Jews. The Jewish people have dealt with tragedy like this for millennia, and it is as horrible now as it was 70 years ago, 250 years ago, 1100 years ago, 2000 years ago, or 2800 years ago. The Jewish people are resilient and are the foundation of our faith, and they - no one, for that matter - never deserve the antisemitism, the 'othering', that has continually been put upon them.
And so, today we celebrate with Miriam and the women and the men the escape from another persecution many, many years ago. In honor and in memory of the 11 who died in Pittsburgh, we dedicated our worship to them and to the God who frees and rescues all of us from persecution and hate.
We sang the Ashira L'Adonai, the oldest hymn in the Judeo-Christian tradition, at the end of the service, and I have included that as well in the recording.
Peace and grace to all, and especially to Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Pastor Seth
October 21, 2018
Tamar: A Biblical Trickster for Justice
Scripture: Genesis 38
Tamar follows in the tradition of Rachel and Leah, Rebekah, Sarah, and Eve. She is 'wicked smaht', as they say here in Maine. Tamar also follows in the vast and universal tradition of tricksters in religions and mythologies around the world. She is a master of culture, situational ethics, and human behavior. Tamar is also deeply concerned about justice and righteousness. She shares much with Jesus.
Enjoy the PDF and the audio!
Peace and grace to all! Pastor Seth
Tamar: A Biblical Trickster for Justice
Scripture: Genesis 38
Tamar follows in the tradition of Rachel and Leah, Rebekah, Sarah, and Eve. She is 'wicked smaht', as they say here in Maine. Tamar also follows in the vast and universal tradition of tricksters in religions and mythologies around the world. She is a master of culture, situational ethics, and human behavior. Tamar is also deeply concerned about justice and righteousness. She shares much with Jesus.
Enjoy the PDF and the audio!
Peace and grace to all! Pastor Seth
October 14, 2018
Rachel and Leah: In-Laws, Bent Promises, and the Future
Scripture: Genesis: 29:1-12, 31; 30:22-27
The relationship between Rachel and Leah, who are two of Jacob's wives, is tangled and messy. Their relationship teaches us about our relationships as well. Sometimes, there is anger and envy in our relationships. Sometimes, the divisions of our family histories become our story as well. And sometimes, the relationship brings about reunion and hope.
Only audio this week.
Peace and grace! Pastor Seth
Rachel and Leah: In-Laws, Bent Promises, and the Future
Scripture: Genesis: 29:1-12, 31; 30:22-27
The relationship between Rachel and Leah, who are two of Jacob's wives, is tangled and messy. Their relationship teaches us about our relationships as well. Sometimes, there is anger and envy in our relationships. Sometimes, the divisions of our family histories become our story as well. And sometimes, the relationship brings about reunion and hope.
Only audio this week.
Peace and grace! Pastor Seth
October 7, 2018
Rebekah: A Shaky Kismet
Scripture: Genesis 24:2-4, 10-21, 61-67; 25:21-23
Rebekah is Isaac's wife, and her story is an exploration into how God seeks to align our lives with God's will. There are a lot of ways to describe that experience: destiny, fate, predestination. But my favorite term for it is kismet. Today, we find out how kismet is working in Rebekah's story, and in ours.
Enjoy! Pastor Seth
Rebekah: A Shaky Kismet
Scripture: Genesis 24:2-4, 10-21, 61-67; 25:21-23
Rebekah is Isaac's wife, and her story is an exploration into how God seeks to align our lives with God's will. There are a lot of ways to describe that experience: destiny, fate, predestination. But my favorite term for it is kismet. Today, we find out how kismet is working in Rebekah's story, and in ours.
Enjoy! Pastor Seth
September 30, 2018
Hagar: The Cost of Contempt
Scripture: Genesis 16:1-9, 14-16; 21:9-21
Hagar is the Egyptian slave-girl of Sarai. She is an interesting character in the story of Abraham. Things we think of as normal way back in ancient history when this story takes place, such as slavery, the low state of women and children, and patriarchal structures, are all subverted by the story of Hagar. And for very good reason: the world as it is - is not as it should be.
Only audio this week.
Peace! Pastor Seth
Hagar: The Cost of Contempt
Scripture: Genesis 16:1-9, 14-16; 21:9-21
Hagar is the Egyptian slave-girl of Sarai. She is an interesting character in the story of Abraham. Things we think of as normal way back in ancient history when this story takes place, such as slavery, the low state of women and children, and patriarchal structures, are all subverted by the story of Hagar. And for very good reason: the world as it is - is not as it should be.
Only audio this week.
Peace! Pastor Seth
September 23, 2018
Sarah: Laughing With God and Others
Scripture: Genesis 11:29-30; 18:1-15; 21:1-6; 23:1-2, 19
Sarah is considered by the Rabbis to be the Princess or Queen of the World. She is the receiver of God's promise to Abraham, the Matriarch of the Jewish people. There is much to be learned from her.
Among the things to be learned is the value of laughter in the realm of human experience. That is our focus for today: laughter and what it means for the people of God.
I only have the PDF this week. It is linked above.
Peace and grace to all!
Pastor Seth
Sarah: Laughing With God and Others
Scripture: Genesis 11:29-30; 18:1-15; 21:1-6; 23:1-2, 19
Sarah is considered by the Rabbis to be the Princess or Queen of the World. She is the receiver of God's promise to Abraham, the Matriarch of the Jewish people. There is much to be learned from her.
Among the things to be learned is the value of laughter in the realm of human experience. That is our focus for today: laughter and what it means for the people of God.
I only have the PDF this week. It is linked above.
Peace and grace to all!
Pastor Seth
September 9, 2018
"Eve: The Mother of All Living Things"
Scripture: Genesis 2:21-25; Genesis 3
We are starting a new series on Women in the Bible. We will primarily be in the Old Testament, and will finish on Christmas Eve with Mother Mary.
This week, we begin where Scripture begins - by seeing what is really going on with the story of Eve. So much of our understanding of this story comes from centuries of interpretation. For instance, the phrase "Original Sin" never occurs in Scripture. It is an interpretive idea that we feed back into our reading and then read this story as if it were what the story says. We take the interpretation to be the words on the page, but if we just take the story as it is and read it to the best of our ability without all the baggage a very different story comes to the surface about Eve and what she is doing.
I recognize this is a radical reinterpretation of what you may have heard about Eve in the past. It is the blessing of reading Scripture according to one's conscience. Experimenting with new understandings is a very Puritan approach to the Word of God. If we allow ourselves the opportunity, new ways of seeing rise to the surface. And then...
Eve becomes a tradition and force of faith that changes everything.
Peace and grace to all! Pastor Seth
"Eve: The Mother of All Living Things"
Scripture: Genesis 2:21-25; Genesis 3
We are starting a new series on Women in the Bible. We will primarily be in the Old Testament, and will finish on Christmas Eve with Mother Mary.
This week, we begin where Scripture begins - by seeing what is really going on with the story of Eve. So much of our understanding of this story comes from centuries of interpretation. For instance, the phrase "Original Sin" never occurs in Scripture. It is an interpretive idea that we feed back into our reading and then read this story as if it were what the story says. We take the interpretation to be the words on the page, but if we just take the story as it is and read it to the best of our ability without all the baggage a very different story comes to the surface about Eve and what she is doing.
I recognize this is a radical reinterpretation of what you may have heard about Eve in the past. It is the blessing of reading Scripture according to one's conscience. Experimenting with new understandings is a very Puritan approach to the Word of God. If we allow ourselves the opportunity, new ways of seeing rise to the surface. And then...
Eve becomes a tradition and force of faith that changes everything.
Peace and grace to all! Pastor Seth