Psalm 23 as a Celebration for Survivors; Aug 31, 2025

 

Rev. George Miller

August 31, 2025

Psalm 23

 

Tuesday was the 1^st day of St. Lucas

Pre-School, which meant lots of crying from our 2 year-olds.

 

Our talented teachers knew how to best deal with it- let the children feel their emotion, be there for them, keep them safe.

 

The ones with tears in their eyes are like little lost sheep, wondering what dark valley they’ve been left in.

 

Eventually it came time for the playground.  There was one little girl with curls who had some speed on her.  Every chance she had she broke away to run for freedom.  Down the path, across the graveyard; a school shepherd never less than 2 steps away.

 

We get to the playground.  Curly Sue cries, contorts her body, tries to make another run for it. 

 

Finally, (filamente!), the gates of the playground open and she says “The slide.”  All tears end as she climbs the stairs.  She had found her green pastures…

 

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”  There is something so transcendent about this sentence. The moment we hear it, our nervous system quiets and our busy mind lays down.

 

Ever wonder what Jesus knew about Psalm 23, or how often he would say these words to others, and to himself? 

 

How did Psalm 23 inspire the way Jesus taught, saw, cared for others?

 

Today we end our Summer with a Scripture submitted from last year’s Stump The Pastor.  They had just 1 request- that it not be related to death.

 

That 1 request was brilliant, motivating a deep dive, unearthing unknown things about the Psalm.

 

On the surface it is a song about daily living- eating, drinking, rhythm, and routine. Comfort.  But most likely it is about survival and how to live when absolutely nothing is routine.

 

So let’s take that dive and look at the history of this influential Psalm.

 

Though Bibles and preachers in the past have attributed Psalm 23 to King David, evidence suggests it was written about 400 years after King David, composed in Babylon.

 

A brief bit of history.  Though Jerusalem was founded to be a holy city, it rarely was the Camelot it could have been.  So much injustice, deceit, unkind acts to honest folk trying to earn their daily bread.

 

The actions of Isreal’s kings put them in a vulnerable position.  Babylon raids them, destroys their businesses, olive groves, vineyards, and homes.

 

Those who were deemed worthy and important were taken Northward, on a 900-mile trek through the Fertile Crecent Trade Route; 4 months of walking under duress, leaving behind the only home they knew.

 

When the deportees arrive in Babylon, they are faced with radical differences. 

 

In Babylon there is the consumption of pork and shellfish, food boiled with blood, and meat served with milk, all things a faithful follower of God would never consume.

 

The city is smothered in the smells of bacon, Burger King, and Old Bay Seasoning, a constant assault on the Jewish people’s noses.

 

Instead of worshipping one god, the people of Babylon worship many- Marduk, Nabu, Ishtar.  Their king believes he’s been chosen by the gods.

 

Daily life is filled with public parades to these gods with people tossing flowers, singing songs.   If you don’t participate in the festivals, folk give you the side eye, start rumors, call you disloyal which can lead to arrest, execution, or forced labor.

 

For 50 years the people of God were in Exile.  With each generation their children began to adapt some of these different customs, wanting to go to the Temple of Marduk, listen to the songs of Nabu, go to the cookout for Ishtar, even attend a parade and toss flowers to Babylon’s gods.

 

And their parents, grandparents had to wonder, with great heartbreak- will our kids remember who they are?

 

Will our future family remember the old ways, the traditions, the songs we used to sing and the stories we told about The Lord, our God?

 

Under these historic circumstances Psalm 23 was most likely written, not about death, but about survival; life.

 

Life lived in reality.  Life lived in struggle. Life in which dark valleys, unrighteous paths and eating in front of your enemies were real things.

 

When Psalm 23 starts with “The Lord is my shepherd,” it is a very daring, brave thing to say.  It is a pastoral, political, passionate statement of faith, saying-

 

“I don’t care where I live or what those around me do, the Lord, the one and only God, is my shepherd.  Not Marduk, not Ishtar, and certainly not King Nebuchadnezzar!”

 

The Lord is my shepherd.  God will lead me.  Even though I walk through dark valleys.  Because the truth is, the people had been forced to trudge through 900 miles of valleys.

 

Some valleys were lush but foreign, others marshy with overwhelming horizons.  There were arid, stark valleys full of scrub vegetation and summer heat.

 

Yet, somehow they believed that God was with them, comforting them, keeping them brave.

 

Though the author of Psalm 23 may have been stollen away to Baylon, seeing unholy festivities outside their window, smelling roast pork and stewed shellfish, they envision the tranquility of a godly home- a lush banquet, familiar food to enjoy, drink to sip in overflowing cups.

 

In verse 4 the author states “For you are with me.”  Its placement is so vital- exactly in the middle. 

 

The phrase “For you are with me” is foundational, like that rock we discussed last week- a rock to stand on when all else is shaky ground.

 

Here the poet makes another pastoral, political, passionate plea- they are resting their whole existence on God, trusting in God’s provision, guidance, protection; trusting in God’s heritage.

 

Psalm 23 is not so much words to say when someone dies, but words to say by everyone as we live.

 

Most likely, this is a song by and for people who should have given up, given in, gone away a long time ago, and yet are still here, standing strong.

 

This is a song for people who have continual, lived trust in the Lord.  Who are confident in their faith.  Who trust that God will lead them through whatever valley they face.

 

These are the words of folk who trust in God the rock, both as refuge and the rock of strength.

 

Psalm 23 is a foundational rock to stand upon and find refuge in, even when circumstances say differently; a testimony to all that we can do through God who strengthens us. 

 

May it continue to be one of the foundations we build upon, a reminder for nights that seem so long and the valleys that feel so dark.

 

May we find comfort in the classic wisdom of this poem and merciful goodness in the ways it speaks us into our future.     Amen.

The Lord as Rock of Refuge & Foundation; Psalm 18:2

 

Rev. George Miller

August 24, 2025

Psalm 18:2

 

Today is a day of joy and joyful singing; a foundation of our faith and one of the ways we tell the story.

 

We give thanks to Linda who was inspired to hold a Hymn Sing.  We thank all of you for supplying a surplus of songs.

 

Foundation- We’ve explored  so many foundations of our faith- The Apostles’ Creed, the UCC Statement of Faith, next week we’ll have a Baptism.

 

Each Sunday we welcome in the Light of Christ, receive the assurance of forgiveness, say the Lord’s Prayer, and participate in the offering.

 

All part of the traditions that have shaped the Church Universal since the days Lydia had worshippers in Corinth gather in her home.

 

Tradition- Roots of who we are as we continue growing into who God calls us to be.

 

God, our Shepherd, our Father, our Rock.

 

Today’s reading, submitted last year, is perfect for now.  A love song to the Lord in who we find refuge and strength.

 

In God we are given a home and become brave.

 

Notice how twice the Lord is referred to as “my rock.”

 

Dig deeper, and discover something cool.  In Hebrew there are 2 words used for rock- sela and sur, and they mean different things.

 

Sela refers to something you can see, climb, enter - think a cliff or cave.

 

Sur refers to something steady, unshakeable, a bedrock.

 

Sela is what you run to; sur is what you stand upon.

 

In other words, St. Lucas UCC is one kind of rock, a beautiful stone structure that we come to when we need to feel loved, rested, safe.

 

What takes place within St. Lucas UCC is another kind of rock in which the worship, the liturgy, the tradition is the bedrock of our faith.

 

In this way, the words we say, prayers we offer, songs we sing are the “sur”, the steady part of our faith that deepens our relationship to God.

 

St. Lucas UCC, as a building, is the rock that rises from the earth and reaches into the sky.

 

Our missions, our traditions, our hymns are the rock that rises from our collective hearts and reaches into the heavens.

 

Today, as we sing our songs, let’s not think of them as just familiar favorites, but rocks-

 

Rocks of melody and harmony that lift our spirits, still our soul, and create the foundation of our faith.

 

When we sing “It Is Well With My Soul” or “In The Garden”, when we sing “There’s Something About That Name” and “Tell Me That Old Old Story” we’re not just singing words from a book-

 

We are sharing and celebrating foundational bedrock of our faith and trust of God.

 

These are indeed Rocks of Ages, meant to hold us together and unite us as one, standing upon the Lord.

 

Amen.

The Uniting Garden of the UCC Statement of Faith; Sermon for August 10, 2025

 

Rev. George Miller

August 10, 2025

UCC Statement of Faith

 

It’s been a year since I’ve been here.  The river flooding from Fall rains, freezing toes of Winter’s snow, fresh scents of Spring’s rebirth, sweat-stains of Summer’s celebrations.

 

The year coincides with one of the most stressful times in any church’s calendar- budget.

 

Oh vey!  A Dios Mio!  Ach du meine Gute!  The anxiety, what to cut, what to keep.

 

Psalm 23 reminds us that we shall not want, Jesus turns fish into plenty, yet budget time is difficult for our data-driven minds to fully believe that God’s bounty can manifest in the goodness of folks’ generosity.

 

So what happens?  Emotions come to the surface.  E-mails get exchanged.  People speak or even argue passionately. 

 

Opinions can feel like battering rams rather than ideas meant to seed the soil.

 

So what do we do that is the most creative, compassionate way to approach budget time?

 

Conversation.  Space to speak, to be heard.  Dialogue to let multiple mindsets germinate, pollinate in a productive way.

 

It is OK to have a multiplicity of thoughts, convictions, as long as we see ourselves as part of something bigger, unified, like a well-loved and managed garden that blooms and brings forth radiant life.

 

As the Rev. Dr. Mark Wilson told me- “No one looks at a wheat field and says, ‘What a beautiful garden.’”

 

Think of the garden outside our Narthex doors.  The love Joan and Joan have shown creating a welcoming oasis- two well-tended Pancile Hydrangeas with fragrant white flowers, Coneflowers and Black-Eyed Susans in full bloom, a tall Plumbago with blue flowers.

 

Ferns enjoying their favorite habitat.  The added color of Wave Petunias planted randomly, yet intentionally.

 

The result is a treat for the eyes and nose, with bees about, sipping nectar.

 

The abundance this garden of rich diversity demonstrates; each plant existing as it’s own self, yet unified as One.

 

Unification is the roots of The Apostles’ Creed we discussed last week.  Today, inspired again by the inquisitiveness of Sarah, we explore another piece of our UCC history- The Statement of Faith.

 

Overseen by Eden professor Elmer J.F. Arndt and Harvard’s dean Doug Horton, the UCC Statement of Faith was prepared by 6 women and 22 men, ratified at the Second General Synod in 1959.

 

Marty’s Dad played a role in the creation, as President of Eden’s Board of Directors.

 

Remember how The Apostles’ Creed was crafted to unite Christians all over the globe?

 

The UCC Statement of Faith was crafted to unite the Christian, Congregational, Evangelical, Reformed bodies who came together as one United Church in 1957.

 

Not a Creed that must be believed, it is a grace-filled testimony of belief, designed to be heard across denominational lines, embodying the UCC’s heart.

 

With a focus on a powerful God who is also personal, a life that is holy yet meant to exist with others, the Statement is not meant to make us single-minded chatbots, but to be our own unique selves with an ability to reflect and connect.

 

The Statement of Faith was designed like a garden- to dynamically grow, to gather and welcome, providing sweet nectar to enhance the world.

 

Let’s look at 3 flowers we can gather from this garden.

 

1)          God as creating, 2) Jesus as the embodiment of God’s love, 3) our call to bravery.

 

We hear “God bestows upon us God’s Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ.” 

 

This idea of God creating isn’t just about the opening words of Genesis, or creation as something ancient and over.

 

It's about God still speaking, active in our lives, sowing seeds, raining upon and breathing life into us.

 

This is God as eternal Creator who sees St. Lucas not just as a monument, but a movement.

 

Our Statement of Faith sees God as setting paths, seeking us out, sharing guidance.

 

Second, Jesus as the embodiment of God’s love.

 

Here, we witness Jesus as the center of our religion’s heart.  “He has come to us and shared our common lot.” 

 

This means Jesus is not distant; Jesus was never so fragile or completely other that he was untouchable. 

 

He was the complete opposite.  The embodiment of love that God shows through Jesus is one who came to live in the full beauty and mess of our life; to enjoy the scent of the flowers but also get in the dirt.

 

Through Jesus, God’s grace and mercy didn’t arrive via an emperor or castle, but into our own neighborhood, in a way that said “Hey neighbor!” to all, no matter background, finances,  or tragic mistakes.

 

3^rd- the UCC Statement of Faith call us to bravery.

 

Notice we are not called to just believe in something- it inspires us to act in faith.

 

The Statement calls to be brave.  By mentioning God as one who liberates and heals, it tuns to us invitingly and says-

 

“Now that you said these words, go and live all that you know is true and truly felt.”

 

This means being Christ’s disciples who find ways to bravely stand up when it is easier to sit down.

 

It means choosing not to be cruel, tell lies, or spend time ruining another’s reputation, but doing what is right- assist those you can when you can.

 

To make choices that bring forth the ways of life, such as filling up Yellow Bags for Feed My people, to see the very humanity of each person.

 

We witnessed that bravery when our Youth shared their Mission trip.  We get to embody it during the Blood Drive on the 18^th.  It becomes sweat-in-action at September’s Habitat for Humanity.

 

When it comes to Budget, that call to bravery means choosing to act in dignity, being brave enough to speak, and braver to hear without harm.

 

In closing, we once again thank Sarah for asking a question that created a wonderful challenge.

 

We are thankful for the chance to remember a piece of our UCC History and the thought that went into it.

 

We honor this as part of our heritage, knowing it is meant to unify us as one with all UCC believers,

 

a way for us to remember the God who creates, the Christ who reconciles, and the Holy Spirit who binds us together as One, as United.

 

Amen.

 

(Flower descriptions came from Joan Dalgaard, one of the women who tend to St. Lucas’s garden.)

The Apostles' Creed; Aug 3 2025

 

Rev. George Miller

August 3, 2025

The Apostles’ Creed

 

On May 25, the St. Louis Post Dispatch ran an article about attendance rising in the city’s Greek Orthodox churches.

 

They are attracting younger people who are drawn to the beauty, mystery, and wonder found in traditional worship.  This pattern is seen in Muslim,  Catholic, and Jewish places.

 

Those born on/around 1995 are going to spaces with timeless practices, craving a sense of authenticity, ancient sacredness, and belonging.

 

In an uncertain world that is so plugged in, instant, and inauthentic, there are those who want something that feels unrushed and real:

 

Liturgy with emotional depth, and a sense of timeless continuity, such as singing songs their grandparents sang.

 

Think of last week.  Our Youth returned from Back Bay with worship featuring liturgy of

-the United Church of Canada Statement of Faith

-Conference of Catholic Bishops
-“Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus” from Family of God.

 

Today’s reading stems from a conversation with Sarah Margenau one Monday, after Bible Study.  She inquisitively asked why St. Lucas no longer says The Apostles’ Creed and Statement of Faith.

 

As someone of Congregational roots, I didn’t know these existed until attending Eden.

 

My heart listened to all Sarah said about the wonder and majesty of these words; what it meant to learn, know, say.

 

The Apostles’ Creed has been part of Sarah’s tradition and St. Lucas.  When, why did it stop?  That’s a question for another time.  Today we look at this piece of church history.

 

Picture it- Rome, 325- faith in Christ is flourishing all over the place.  But it’s not unified. 

 

People believing, teaching different things about Jesus, arguing over who he is, what his relationship to God is.

 

Into this chaos, the emperor Constantine sets a goal - lets unify the nation under one faith with a Creed that unites Christians, but also keeps them in line, so they are faithful citizens to Rome.

 

This becomes known as the Nicene Creed.  Over the next 300 years this morphs into the Apostles’ Creed, less “imperial” but more intimate.

 

It's a unifying statement to connect all Christians, create a seamless sense of identity and belonging, while setting boundaries around what being a Christian means.

 

Saying the Apostles’ Creed doesn’t just connect you to the person in the pew next to you, but to your ancestors who said these words centuries ago.

 

Today we’ll focus on three statements from the Creed. 

 

1)Jesus was born of the virgin Mary.  2) He suffered under Pontius Pilate.  3) He descended into hell. 

 

What may these 3 statements mean to our modern ears?

 

1^st- Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary.  Scholarship has called this statement into question, though its roots have profound meaning.

 

Looking back to 325 to 650, we think of the limited role women had in society and in organized religion.

 

But here, a woman is named; one who was poor, a traveler, who was denied room in the inn. 

 

It is as if across time, the sacred Holy Spirit is smiling and whispering to us- “Guess what- even in the oldest, most honored of traditions, a woman’s story is central.”

 

Though the Apostles’ Creed was credited to men, influenced by an emperor seeking control, a poor immigrant woman gets the spotlight and says “I’m here.”

 

To say Jesus was born is paradigm- shifting.  Crafted when some saw the body as evil/bad, this Creed says Jesus didn’t fall from the sky- he was born, like us.

 

Jesus was embodied; he had a Mama; a bellybutton.  He was born into a family with history, culture, traditions.  He cried, thirsted, enjoyed the aroma of sweet-smelling perfume.

 

2^nd- Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate.  How this crept into the Nicene and Apostles’ Creed is a testimony to the subversive nature of God.

 

It is a political statement, ripe with significance, bringing our attention to Jesus’s death as an execution, taking place under the hands of politicians.

 

To say he suffered under Pilate is to expose the injustice, to name the indignity that Jesus endured by the government’s doing.

 

It's the Holy Spirit sweeping in to say “That baby boy with the bellybutton who was born to Mary- those in power tried their best to silence the work of God- but they could not.” 

 

3^rd- the statement that Jesus descended into hell.  This, for some, is a troublesome part of the Creed. 

 

No scripture explicitly states this.  The United Methodist church deletes this line.  Not everyone believes hell exists.

 

Yet- there is weight to what this line states.  To say Jesus descended into hell means there is no place where Jesus is not; that all the lonely, scary places we have been, or currently are in- Jesus is there.

 

The sadness we carry, Jesus sits with us.  Our private hells- Jesus descends with us.  Those long starry nights, the difficult choices we must make, those who hurt us, the people we’ve had to say goodbye to.  Jesus is there.

 

In closing, folks have said this Creed for over 1,300 years.  It’s been updated, translated, remembered, forgotten, questioned, loved.

 

There are those who’d be ecstatic if we reinstated the Apostles’ Creed, feeling like a lost piece of tradition returned.

 

There are others who would say “Not my words, not my beliefs, not my background.”

 

Some would wrap themselves in the Creed like a warm blanket; others would see it as something to wrestle with.

 

The Apostles’ Creed is a piece of our church history.  It has created wonder and awe, a sense of sacred belonging, and timeless continuity.

 

We thank inquisitive Sarah who inspired today’s message.

 

As love continues to grow here at St. Lucas UCC, may we find ways to collectively discern the future ahead, knowing that our roots from the past are part of our flourishing in the future.

 

Amen.