PLAIN INGLISH Last Sunday’s sermon focused on the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. Before talking about those parables in particular, I talked about parables in general, saying that a parable is the teaching form most associated with Jesus, and that a parable is a simile or a metaphor. Similes use the word “like” or “as” to make comparisons. For example: His words were like shards of glass, and The room is clean as a whistle. One of Jesus’s was, The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. Metaphors, on the other hand, compare two things by saying something is something else. Among the most recognized metaphors is Shakespeare’s: All the world’s a stage. Another familiar one is, He has some skeletons in his closet. “There’s an elephant in the room” is a metaphorical statement suggesting that there’s an obvious truth that is either being ignored or unaddressed—it’s a clear problem no one wants to discuss. When it comes to the merger of First and Disciples Christian Churches, the Steering Team has identified a small herd of elephants that need to be recognized, among them future facilities, worship styles and location, youth and young families, the next hundred members, and member care (especially the elderly). This is not an exhaustive list of elephants. There may be more. But these are the ones we plan to tackle at our retreat on September 28th, which I hope you have on your calendar—9:00 to 4:00 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Now I know these elephants have been the focus of many back-room discussions and that there are some who can’t wait to broadcast their views. Rest assured I have my own opinions that I want to voice. Knowing you as I do, however, I am sure you will do this respectfully, realizing that what we are about here is not discerning popular opinion, but the will of God, who I am sure will be in attendance. I wonder if Jesus could make a parable of this: There once was a church that had some elephants . . . Disciplegram Sept 17, 2013
Posted on: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 20:16:08 +0000
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