From Glory to Glory: Following the Spirit from Epiphany to Transfiguration A worship series for The United Methodist Church as we prepare for General Conference 2019 written by Rev. Kerry Greenhill From the glory of the star at Epiphany to the glory of Jesus in the Transfiguration, we journey through a season of revelation, of drawing the circle wider to include all nations, of words from Jesus on what it means to follow him and instructions on how to be the church. It is not an easy path; we cannot achieve it on our own. We in The United Methodist Church are deeply divided over which teachings of the early church are culturally bound, and which are universal regardless of time and context. Harm has been done to many, and we are still seeking a way forward that is faithful, loving, just, and lifegiving. But if we believe that the greatest spiritual gift is love (1 Cor 13:13), then by the grace of God and the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, we may yet become more fully the Body of Christ, made in God s image, revealing the wisdom of God in its rich variety. (Ephesians 3:10) And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. Therefore, since it is by God s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Corinthians 3:18 4:1 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:22-26 Kerry Greenhill 2018 www.sacredstonesministries.org 1
January 6 Epiphany Sharers in the Promise Generosity Isaiah 60:1-6 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Ephesians 3:1-12 the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God s grace that was given me by the working of his power. We are called to be servants of the gospel, recognizing that others with whom we may disagree are sharers in the promise. When we practice generosity by assuming good intentions and offering grace, we see how God s love continues to be revealed in new ways. January 13 Baptism of the Lord Receiving the Holy Spirit Gentleness Luke 3:15-22 when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. Acts 8:14-17 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. What we long for, in our own lives and as the Church, is a transforming experience of God s Spirit blessing us with words of belovedness and with spiritual power and assurance. We treat each other and ourselves with gentleness as we wait for clarity and blessing. January 20 Second Sunday after the Epiphany Gifts of the Spirit Peace 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.... no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says Let Jesus be cursed! and no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. We are quick to judge those who disagree with us as being misled in their convictions. Yet if no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit, can we honor the manifestation of the Spirit in others in ways that move us toward peace? How do we hold in tension our very real differences with our common humanity and spiritual family? Kerry Greenhill 2018 www.sacredstonesministries.org 2
January 27 Third Sunday after the Epiphany One Body, Many Members Kindness 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. We are called to recognize our interconnectedness, our interdependence as the Body of Christ. We cannot say to one another, I have no need of you. We must treat each other with kindness, listening to the stories of suffering to lament together, sharing stories of honor and wholeness to rejoice together. February 3 Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany The Greatest Gift Love 1 Corinthians 13 the greatest of these is love If God is love, then this famous chapter teaches us something deeply important about the nature of God. How can we more effectively reflect God s image in our treatment of each other and our response to the world? February 10 Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany The Grace of God Is Not in Vain / Put Out into Deep Water Faithfulness 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand Luke 5:1-11 Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch. (call of Simon, James, John) Faithfulness is about both remembering the good news we have heard, God s love and grace for us and listening for Christ s calling so that we can respond to his invitation to abundant life. Neither God s grace, nor our response in faith, is in vain, but will bring sometimes surprising results. As a denomination, we are being invited to put out into deep water, even though it may seem pointless, and to trust that when we obey Christ s invitation, we may find even more than we dared hope for. February 17 Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany Standards Joy Luke 6:17-26 Sermon on the Plain; Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled... But woe to you who are rich" Kerry Greenhill 2018 www.sacredstonesministries.org 3
1 Corinthians 15:12-20 - Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? How do we measure success? What are our standards for effectiveness in ministry? To whom are we comparing ourselves? If we go by Jesus standards for blessedness, we can find joy even in the midst of struggle and suffering. If we succeed by the world s standards if our pews are full and our budgets overflowing, but we have no justice, no kindness in our midst we may have missed the greater opportunity for deep connection with God. February 24 Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany (during GC 2019) The Seed You Sow Self-Control 1 Corinthians 15:35-40 But someone will ask, How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come? Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And as for what you sow, you do not sow the body that is to be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. Luke 6:27-38 But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. A seed contains a mystery: it looks nothing like the stalk or plant or tree that will grow from it, yet it contains all that is necessary to reproduce a certain form of life. We must be willing to be broken open for God s resurrection life to spring forth. And we must practice self-control so we can sowing the seeds of the Kin dom, the seeds of love and blessing and generosity and nonviolent resistance. Whatever the results of General Conference, we can continue to sow God s seeds in the world, and to look for signs of resurrection as God breaks open our church to bring forth new life. March 3 Transfiguration Sunday Seeing the Glory Patience 2 Corinthians 3:12 4:2 And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. Therefore, since it is by God s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. Luke 9:28-36 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses Kerry Greenhill 2018 www.sacredstonesministries.org 4
and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. The Transfiguration was a moment of great joy for Peter, John, James, and possibly Jesus. It is a revelation of Jesus closeness with God and his divine purpose, the presence of God with him and the glory of God at work in and through him. Yet it is not the fulfillment of Jesus purpose; that comes with the cross and the empty tomb, the birth of the church and the work we all continue as the Body of Christ. So we practice being present to the joy of each revelation of God s glory (in ourselves, in other people, in the world around us) while we wait and work for the fulfillment of God s reign. Kerry Greenhill 2018 www.sacredstonesministries.org 5