Author Archives: Max Brennan

Max’s Corner

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“After Pentecost”

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday, but from then on until Advent the bulletin will say whatever Sunday it is “After Pentecost.”

We had a wonderful Pentecost Sunday. Thanks to all who brought food for that great meal. (I wish I had some of that brisket right now.)

We had a meeting of pastors with Bishop Ruben Saenz today. As I said in Friday’s Word, there is a kind of new joy in the church at large—a sense of freedom to preach and live the Gospel.

We have, as a denomination, lost people—and gained our souls. The truth is, we could not move forward until those who left were gone.

They were not advancing the Kingdom.

They were standing in the way.

Jesus told the Pharisees, “You are not entering the Kingdom yourself and you are preventing others from entering.”

The United Methodist Church is now smaller—and stronger.

The Pharisees have left.

We love them.

But now that they are gone, we can move on.

Breakfast This Sunday

It’s a “We-Bring-It” Sunday.

Our “do-it-ourselves” breakfasts have been surprisingly good. Not up to the Winston standard—but still mighty good. Sunday at 10:30.

Mary Up to Bat

The Rev. Mary T. will preach for the next two Sundays.

And our choir is down for the summer. Expect a great solo—like the one from Shannon last week.

Next time I preach, I am doing a solo.

It goes with my sermon.

After Mary’s big singing debut a couple of weeks ago, we need a solo from her very soon.

What do we expect of the rest of you?

Well—just come. Sing. Pray. And rejoice.

This Sunday.

God Bless—MB

ON MY MIND—the folks we love who are sick and others who have lost loved ones. May God’s grace and comfort be with those who need it most.

Friday’s Word

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The Great Miscalculation

Paul told the Corinthians, “We will not all die.”

He was saying that many of them would still be living when the Lord came again.

But everyone Paul was writing to died.

And so did Paul.

Paul was so certain Jesus was returning soon that he advised people not to marry (I Cor. 7:32+).

No reason to bother. Jesus was coming soon.

We are glad to say most Christians ignored him.

(Except the Shakers. They are all gone. There were no children to continue the faith.)

This was the great miscalculation of the early church—the idea that Jesus would soon return.

But instead of dropping an obviously faulty idea—the church hung on to it.

For 2,000 years!

And all that time, preachers have been telling people Jesus is coming soon.

For 2,000 years!!!

And this idea is based on another equally bad idea: that this world God has made is evil, cursed, hopelessly broken.

So God wants to shut it down. End it—as soon as possible.

But the first creation story tells us God looked at his creation and declared it “good.”

And in the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us we are all “blessed,” even with all the pain we may live with.

And God keeps sending us here—into his world.

It’s like the school all souls must go to. This world is where we have the freedom to grow in grace and understanding.

The world has a purpose.

The world serves God’s purpose.

Sorry, all you endtimers.

I don’t think God is calling it quits any time soon. Stop the nonsense.

The Lord has already come. He is with us now.

Max’s Corner

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PENTECOST
With Dinner!

Pentecost is one of the BIG THREE—Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost.

No, it doesn’t have the pull of the other two—but it should. It is our Big Red Day—the only Sunday officially designated for red paraments. (We sometimes keep them up a few weeks—just because they are beautiful.)

Wear something red—if you have it. (If not, don’t worry.)

We have lunch after worship—and we all bring. (If you can. If you can’t, don’t worry.) Bring something good. I’m hungry.

The sermon on Sunday will be: “There Is Power Available.”

But—No Breakfast!

On dinner days, the kitchen is busy with dinner preparation. So no breakfast this Sunday. Eat that egg before you leave home. (Or stop by the Golden Arches.)

A Production Number

The Anthem last Sunday was HUGE.

With a guest playing bass guitar.

And several people—including Mary Teague—doing solos.

And we had quite a few guests for Mother’s Day.

We thank God for inhabiting our worship and filling our hearts with joy.

God Bless—MB

ON MY MIND—the folks we love who are sick and others who have lost loved ones. May God’s grace and comfort be with those who need it most.

Friday’s Word

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Free at Last! Free at Last!

Kerry was having a severe allergic reaction. She called her wife, then rushed toward the elevator to get to the hospital.

She died in the hallway.

She then found herself headed toward a white, limitless Light. A loving and gentle force drew her toward it. But her journey was interrupted.

She was stopped by her deceased grandparents. They were luminous and beautiful and she knew them immediately.

They wanted to tell her they were sorry. They now knew something they had not known in the world. Her family had caused her to live her life in fear.

Her family and her church had told her she was going to hell for being gay. She rejoiced that they now accepted her.

But her grandparents had some bad news for her. It was not her time.

Kerry wanted to stay in this abundant love. She wanted to get to the Light.

And she did.

There before God, “in deepest humility,” Kerry said, “I uttered seven words: ‘I’m gay, will you still love me?’”

God’s words to her changed everything: “You are my child. I love you, I love you, I love you. Go back and tell them.”

That’s what she has been doing, as have other gay people who have had near-death experiences.

Just this last week, the United Methodist Church at its General Conference got out of the hate business. We removed the anti-gay words placed in our Book of Discipline in 1972.

The chains that bound us have been broken. “Free at last, free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

Free to live the Gospel of God’s unconditional love for all people.

Let us rejoice!

Max’s Corner

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The Perfect Sunday

It may have been—perfect.

It was a fitting, moving, and festive celebration of our deliverance from those ugly words in the Book of Discipline declaring a malicious falsehood: that being gay is “incompatible” with Christian faith.

Mary preached and consecrated the elements for Communion.

Mary preached a fine sermon–and she preached from the high pulpit for the first time. (I forgot to tell her that, when she is up there, the fan in the north transept must be turned on. Otherwise—it’s hot!)

Julian sang Bridge Over Troubled Waters—and got another standing ovation. 

 It was a great day.

Our Special Offering

Our special offering Sunday (to get us through a tight spot) was over $11,000. We give thanks.

This offering will do two things, one immediate, the other later. It will help get us through our tight month (May) and later, it will help us meet our obligations at the end of the year.

I depend on the people of this church always coming through.

And the people of this church always come through. We lift our praise to the Lord.

Breakfast this Sunday

It’s a “We-Bring Sunday.”

I’ll bring “pigs-in-a croissant.” 

Let’s have breakfast together—10:30 a.m.

Ascension Sunday this week—

Then Pentecost.

Sermon This Sunday: The Great Miscalculation

We are in prayer for those who are ill and those who have lost loved ones.

See You Sunday. (Just do your best.)

              God Bless—MB

BY THE WAY—we have a big dinner a week from Sunday—on Pentecost. Get ready to bring.