Finding Hope in Copernicus Moments, with Rev. Dr. Steven Koski.

Finding Hope in Copernicus Moments, with Rev. Dr. Steven Koski. Series: Finding Hope in Hard Places A Spacious Christianity, First Presbyterian Church of Bend, Oregon. Scripture: Romans 8.28; Matthew 21.2.

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Keywords:

Worship service, spacious Christianity, diversity, sacred stories, radical love, Copernicus moment, power of love, Christian nationalism, Palm Sunday, love of power, Holy Week, resurrection, love wins, generous support, community service., presbyterian, church, online worship, bend, oregon

Featuring:

Rev. Dr. Steven Koski, Becca Ellis, Brave of Heart, Guests

Transcript

Unknown: 0:20

Music.

Whitney Higdon: 0:37

Welcome to worship at First Presbyterian we at first, Presbyterian practice a spacious Christianity, which means, no matter where you are in your faith journey, you belong, and there is space for you at the table, there is space for your doubts and questions. We believe doubts and questions are a gift that invite us into deeper conversations and a more authentic faith. We believe diversity is a strength. Every story is sacred, and everybody matters. We do our best to live the spacious and radical love of Jesus so that all might have a chance to flourish in this world. We are so glad to connect with you in this way. We would also love to worship with you in person if you're ever in the neighborhood on Sunday mornings at 830 or 10am and never hesitate to reach out to us to learn more about us or how we might support you. I hope you enjoy this worship service. Welcome.

Steven: 3:40

Here's a blessing adapted from Kate bowler, when good news is hard to find. Bless you, my friends, witnessing the crumbling of the world, the disasters too fresh to mend, the losses that will never be restored, the cracks that will never be filled. Blessed are we searching for glimmers of hope, for fragile peace, loosening the tight grip of violence, for the hungry to be fed, for pain to be relieved, for tears of despair to be replaced by tears of joy. Blessed are we who dare to dream, who dare to dream of that day when parents don't have to fear for their children, when leaders replace cruelty with compassion, when leaders no longer shame the vulnerable, but offer shelter. Someday relief will come in. A world where Death is swallowed whole and tears dried forever. Here in this unfinishable life, we bring our heavy burdens to hands strong enough to carry them and to hearts with enough space to hold them. Blessed are you today who dare to walk the path of courage, finding improbable ways to love, offering creative acts of mercy, practicing irreverent defiance of despair. Blessed are you who, in the midst of so much destruction creates beauty in this world, when the world lives like a clenched fist? Blessed are you who dare to walk with a tender heart and open hands, may you carry this quiet revolution of love into a world aching for signs of hope. Blessed are we trusting that somehow, even now, the hearts that we bring into this day can be a sign of good things to come. Amen, I wanted a red Schwinn Road Runner bicycle more than anything for my eighth birthday. I mean, my parents worked hard. We weren't deprived of any essentials, but certainly there wasn't enough money for more than the basics. Now, my parents graciously worked hard to celebrate my birthday with cake, friends, games, gifts. I mean, come on, what else could an eight year old want or expect? Let me tell you what I expected. I expected a bright red Schwinn Roadrunner bicycle. I quickly unwrapped the presents, basketball, chemistry set, new shirt, the requisite pair of socks, the underwear came at Christmas. I tossed it all aside, assuming I would then be led outside where the gift I expected would be waiting. What do you mean? No more presents. Where's my new bike? Oh, boy, was I mad. There wasn't a hint of gratitude, all I could think about was how disappointed I felt I was the center of the universe, and everything revolved around me. I didn't think about my parents, their sacrifice to actually give me a wonderful birthday party. Nope, I expected a red Schwinn Road Runner bicycle, and I didn't get it. That wasn't fair. I stayed mad for months. What I needed was a Copernicus moment. Do you remember Copernicus in 1543 Copernicus challenged the assumption that the earth was the center of the universe and the well accepted belief that the planets and the stars revolved around the Earth. Copernicus had the audacity to suggest the earth wasn't the center of the universe. The earth was just one planet of many planets revolving around the sun, not the other way around. This change in perspective is credited as one of the greatest scientific achievements of all time, Copernicus moments remove us from being the center of the universe. It is only when we take ourselves out of the center that God has any chance to inhabit that space. A Copernicus moment helps us see that that our relationships don't simply exist for our fulfillment, but maybe we're also here to serve, nourish, contribute to the well being of others. A Copernicus moment shifts the question from what is God's purpose for my life to How can my life be used to further God's purposes? A Copernicus moment says, The earth is not here for our consumption, but we are here to care and. Attack the earth. A Copernicus moment says life is not about us. We are about life. We are not here to be blessed, but we are here to be a blessing. Copernicus moments remove us from the center, which is good news, because even though we desperately try, we can't save ourselves. The story of Palm Sunday we remember today really is one big Copernicus moment where Jesus confronted the love of power with the power of love. There were actually two parades that first Palm Sunday, two parades that entered Jerusalem from opposite sides of the city. It was the beginning of Passover, and the city was crowded. So from the west came the Imperial parade of Pontius Pilate, and it was actually common for those in power to parade into Jerusalem and put their power on full display, putting an end to any kind of ideas of a peasant revolt. So picture Pontius Pilate being decked in jewels, entering on a white horse surrounded by military with swords representing Empire and the love of power grounded in fear. Now on the other side of the city from the east comes a very different parade. Now scholars actually suggest Jesus was very intentional in the way that he chose to enter Jerusalem that day. It was a political protest. It was a peaceful protest. The Gospel of Matthew says Jesus was traveling with his disciples towards Jerusalem when he stops and he gives very specific directions to two disciples go to the village ahead of you, you will find a donkey tied there with her Colt by her side, Untie them and bring them to me so Jesus doesn't ride a stallion, as people would expect him to. He rides the most on military mount imaginable, a nursing mother donkey with her Colt beside her. Jesus didn't want any confusion about the Copernicus moment that that he was bringing when he arrived into Jerusalem, he didn't come into Jerusalem as a conquering hero on a on a white horse, but humbly vulnerably on a nursing donkey with her Colt by her side. The crowd tired of being oppressed by the Roman Empire, tired of living in fear, cried out Hosanna, which literally means, save us. They were expecting a mighty king who would save them by leading a violent revolution. Instead, they received a Savior who loved so fiercely and fully that he was willing to lay down his life for them, and that's not what anyone expected. You know, when I think of those, those two parades on that first Palm Sunday, entering the city from from opposite sides, with with Pilate representing the love of power and Jesus representing the power of love, I can't help but think of the sharp contrast between the kind of Christian nationalism we see lifted up in the public square today and the actual life teachings and love of Christ. Think of those two parades, the parade of Pontius Pilate, representing the love of power, and Jesus inviting a Copernicus moment, modeling the power of love. Which parade. Are we Marching In? Christian nationalism promotes America. First Christ said, For God so loved the world. Christian nationalism theme is Make America Great. Christ said, those wanting to be great must be willing to be the servant of all. Christian nationalism judges and punishes those who disagree. Christ said, Love your enemies. Christian nationalism celebrates mass deportation. Christ said, welcome the stranger. Christian nationalism prioritizes the US. Christ said, there is no them, there is only us. Christian nationalism insists my taxes better not be paying for your Loaves and Fishes. Christ said, as you have treated the most vulnerable among you, so you have treated me. Christian nationalism claims God has blessed me. Christ said You are blessed so that you will be a blessing for others. Christian nationalism rallying call is higher walls and locked doors. Christ emphasized longer tables and welcome mats. Christian nationalism gloats that God is on our side. Christ asks, Are you on God's side? Which is always the side of the poor and the oppressed? Christian nationalism insists the Bible be read in every school. Christ asks us to make sure our children are safe from violence and have enough to eat so that they can actually learn to read. Christian nationalism tells us to fear, Judge, condemn those who are different. Christ invites us to welcome and see the image and goodness of God, especially in those who are different. Christian nationalism believes the world is full of enemies to be destroyed. Christ teaches that the world is full of neighbors to be loved on that first Palm Sunday, Jesus riding a nursing donkey with her Colt by her side, was inviting a Copernicus moment, challenging the love of power with the power of love. Do you ever wonder why Jesus had to die? I mean, for a lot of us, the only answer we've been given is that Jesus, Jesus took the punishment that that we deserve so that that God wouldn't be angry at us anymore. I mean, I had the version I was taught as a kid that I was that I was so bad that God had to send his only Son to suffer and die a horrible death to pay for the fact that I was so bad. Now, there are a number of variations on this theme, but you notice in most variations, it's about us and what God has done for us to atone for our sins. Why do we place ourselves at the center of the story? Maybe we need a Copernicus moment. What if Jesus died because we kept and we keep choosing power, violence and fear over love, justice and mercy? What if the cross isn't about us? But about God? What if the cross reveals the power of a love we can never fully understand? What if the hope of the cross is a Copernicus moment where we reorient our lives with the fierce love of Christ as our center. Now that would change everything. If we follow Jesus this Holy Week, we will see a humble servant holding. Tired, sore, smelly feet of his friends, tenderly washing them. We will see Jesus betrayed, denied, spit at crucified, looking into the eyes of those who drove the nails into his hands, saying, Father, forgive them. No one expected that kind of unfathomable, unimaginable love. I'm not sure we even expected today in this world that lusts for power. Do we really trust the power of that kind of vulnerable love. If we follow Jesus this Holy Week, we will hear a cry from the cross. Many of us know all too well, God, why have You forsaken Me when we place ourselves at the center, when we think the cross is about us. From this vantage point, our view is an angry, vengeful god demanding a pound of flesh to atone for our sins. We need a Copernicus moment. What about what if the cross isn't about us, but about who God is? What if God isn't standing above the cross, looking down in judgment? What if God is hanging from the cross revealing an unimaginable love, revealing the power of love, the kind of love that we don't expect, but it's the kind of love that will save us. What if the cross wasn't some cosmic debt pay off. But instead Jesus stepping into the worst of human suffering, revealing a love, the power of a love that says, says, Even here in the depths of hell, I am with you. I don't think the suffering and death of Jesus is about you, but I believe with my whole heart that it is for you. In fact, God is so for you that we are promised there is nothing. There is nothing in life or death that can ever separate us from the love of God revealed in Jesus and the resurrection the resurrection is the promise that the power of love will always defeat the love of power. Love wins. Love always wins. So what does that mean for us? It means that salvation isn't just about what happens when we die. It's about being set free now, being set free from fear, being set free from shame, being set free from self absorption and self centeredness, being set free to love, to love like Jesus loved, as we follow Jesus this Holy Week, may we Have Copernicus moments, taking ourselves out of the center. It is then that the fierce love of God, revealed in Jesus, has a chance to inhabit that space. And when the fierce love of Christ inhabits that space in the center of us, Everything, changes, including our very lives. May it be so, Friends. As we enter this Holy Week, following Jesus to the cross and beyond to the joy of Easter, may we have a Copernicus moment, taking ourselves out of the center, making room for the love of Christ to inhabit that space who in the power of love revealed to us in Jesus inhabits that space in the center of us, everything changes. Friends go in the peace and power of love, and May the love that you bring into this world confront the love of power and bring peace to others. Amen.

Whitney Higdon: 28:36

Thank you so much for joining us, and we hope you enjoyed this worship service. If you would like to make a donation helping make these broadcasts possible or support the many ways, first, Presbyterian seeks to serve our community, you can make a financial gift online at bend fp.org, every week, we hear from someone thanking us for the gift of these broadcasts and what a difference they Make. Your support makes that possible. Our church is committed to reach beyond our walls, bringing hope where there is despair and love where it is needed the most. Your generous support helps us to be generous in love. Go to our website, bend fp.org, and click on the link. Give online. Your support is really appreciated and makes a difference in people's lives. Thanks again. I hope to see you next week. You