Community of JOY
February 6, 2011: Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
WE COME BEFORE GOD
PRAISE “That’s Why We Praise Him,” “Touching Heaven Changing Earth,” “Change My Heart, O God”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
*CALL TO WORSHIP* (Please stand.)
P: God sends light to us this day and invites us to meet one another in this light.
C: Light breaks froth like the dawn, Drawing us into relationship with one another.
P: Humble yourselves for the worship of God, That you may be empowered to serve.
C: God calls us to trust with steady hearts and to serve with righteous compassion.
P: Seek not for lofty words of wisdom, but for powerful demonstrations of God’s way.
C: God makes us to be the salt of the earth And lights to show God’s works to the world.
*HYMN (Please remain standing.) #258, “God Forgave My Sin”
PRAYER, Patricia Suhs
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
SCRIPTURE LESSON: Matthew 5:13-20, David Suhs (Response to the reading: “Thanks be to God.”)
SERMON “Am I the Light of the World?” Pastor Yani
There was a placard in front of a mental hospital, saying, “Those who light up the world are crazy people.” Those who make great impacts in the world often hear from others that they must be crazy. We can see that the mental hospital put the placard there to support their patients.
To the person next to you please say, “You are the light of the world.” Yes. That’s what Jesus said to people. Let’s say, someone comes to you and says, “You are the light of the world.” Would you believe it? Do you really believe that you are THE Light of the world?
What does light do? (Answer). With light, we read books and work under it. Plants need it badly to grow. Scientists say human beings take light through eyes, deliver it to the brain and produce Serotonin. Serotonin is a well-known contributor to feelings of well-being; therefore it is also known as a "happiness hormone" despite not being a hormone. So if we want to feel happy, we need some intake of light through our eyes.
We also use electric light when natural light is not readily available. Thomas Edison (1847–1931), an American inventor invented an electric light bulb in 1879. Edison patented a system for electricity distribution in 1880. It was essential to capitalize on the invention of the electric lamp. Edison founded a power station on Manhattan Island in New York. In 1882 Edison switched on his power distribution system and provided 110 volts direct current (DC) to 59 customers in lower Manhattan. No wonder I never had a blackout while I lived in Manhattan for 8 years. (But then when I moved to Upstate New York, whenever there was a heavy snowstorm, there was no electricity.)
So the mass distribution of electric power has been possible for about 130 years. With electricity, we can watch TV, use computer, keep food fresh in the refrigerator, and many more. We have all kinds of electric appliances from lawn mower to a refrigerator for cosmetics. If there is light in the night, we can still read books and do many other things. Can you imagine a world without electricity and electric light?
Korea is now enjoying electricity without any problem. But it is rather a recent phenomenon that this country has electricity. In my childhood in the early 1970’s, I used to visit my grandma’s place about 3 miles away. While we had electricity in town, my grandma’s village did not have it. They depended on oil lamps there.
Now rich countries like Korea have to worry about light pollution. Light pollution is a side effect of industrial civilization. Its sources include building exterior and interior lighting, advertising, commercial properties, offices, factories, streetlights, and illuminated sporting venues. But even relatively small amounts of light can be noticed and create problems. Like other forms of pollution (such as air, water, and noise pollution) light pollution causes damage to the environment. There is so much light even in the night, especially in cities. My friend from the Philippines and I once walked in Seoul in one night. She told me the city of Seoul is so bright in the night compared to Manila. Bright cities waste so much energy. Because of light in the night birds and trees cannot rest and are getting sick. When we turn all the lights off and go to bed in the night, the light from the street is so bright that it affects our rest and health.
But the affluence of electricity and electric light is not for all. In this 21st century, some 2 billion people on the planet do not have access to electrical energy. In sub-Saharan Africa, only 20% of the households have electricity. In South Asia, only 40% do. Several years ago when I learned about this I wanted to find out if that was true. So when I conducted a leadership event for 25 women officers of Lao national Methodist women’s association, I asked them how many did not have electricity at home. Ten of them said they lived in the places where there was no electricity. In that hot weather around the year there was no electricity. (The GDP per year was about $250 in Laos then.) In poor countries where there is not enough electricity, people get up very early in the morning and go to bed early in the night because they have to rely on the sun for light.
So electricity is an issue of economy and justice. We need to see what Jesus meant when he said, “You are the light of the world.” In the time of Jesus, the rich could light their houses with torches in the night. But the poor carefully meted out precious olive oil or fat from animals.
Jesus was speaking to ordinary people who were probably not rich and did not have enough oil. They did not know they were the light of the world. They did not know they had light to give to the world. When I quoted the Matthew passage in my sermon and proclaimed to Lao women participants at the program, “You’re the light of the world!” they responded, “Amen.” But later during a meal time, some women said to me, although they responded, “Amen” during worship, they did not really believe it. I asked why. They said they were poor and uneducated and thus could not be the light of the world.
I used the same Bible text for an English class in Korea. The participants were young women. They showed a similar response. One said that she was only one light among many lights. Another said she was a small light like a lamp on the desk. What about you? Can you say with confidence, “I’m the light of the world. Without me, the world will go completely dark. I’m very important.” (Answer)
Not just the first audience of Jesus and people living without electric power in parts of Africa and Asia, but also those of us who enjoy affluence often have hard time believing that we are the light of the world. We feel too old or too young, not healthy, not handsome, not so competent, not so productive, not having high enough social status, not getting enough income, etc. In a word, we sometimes feel not enough. Not to mention to be called the light of the world.
But Jesus says to those of us who think they are tiny lights. “You are the light of the world. There is no humility here. Let your light shine. Show off! Do it for God!” Jesus is amazing. Light was one of his nicknames, especially in the Gospel of John (1:59; 8:19). People confessed that Jesus was the true light. I think the text this morning shows that Jesus returns that honorific title to his common followers. Jesus can see what we cannot. He sees the great light in us whereas we deny it. Whether the “you” in Jesus’ speech is plural or singular, it does not matter. Each and every one of us is the light of the world without which the world is not happy. If you still have hard time accepting it, here are some angels who will deliver the message of Jesus in a different form.
Sisters and brothers in Jesus Christ, Jesus says to you, “You are the light of the world. There is no humility here. Let your light shine. Show off! Do it for God!”
Amen
*HYMN (Please stand.) #264, “Lord, the Light of …” vss. 1& 3
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
*SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST (Please greet one another with a sign of the peace of God.)
TITHES & OFFERING, “Rise up and Praise Him”
PRAYER OF DEDICATION**
God, you are our Light: the primordial light of the cosmos, in Jesus Christ the Light of the world, and through the Spirit the Light within us all. You have told us to claim your Light and live in such a way that it shines through all that we do. As we bring our hearts, our gifts and our lives to you now, we trust you to transform these offerings into food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, and hope and love for all who need you this day. Transform what we offer here, including the persons we are becoming by your grace, so that all your creation will see and give glory to you. This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
COMMUNION (In the COJ, all followers of Christ-whatever their age, whatever their church-are welcome at the Lord’s Table. The chalice contains unfermented grape juice.)
COMMUNION HYMN #236, “Let Us Break Bread together”
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (“Lord in your mercy…,” “Hear our prayer.”)
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER (Ecumenical Version)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
*CLOSING SONG, “Offering”
*DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE #83, “On Eagle’s Wings”
(*Lavon Bayler, Fresh Winds of the Spirit; **from www.gbod.org)
Announcements
1. Welcome to the Community of JOY! If you’re here for the first time, please join us for a time to get to know each other after the service. Please fill in the welcome card and put it in the offering basket.
2. Today: Communion, birthday party, & cleaning.
3. Next Sunday: Council Mtg.
4. Feb. 20: Installation and Blessing of COJ leaders for 2011.
5. Thanks to Daren Blanck and Ken Gunther for working on our website: cojdaejeon.yolasite.com. Send photos to cojdaejeon@gmail.com
6. Please wear your name tag when you come to worship. To request a new name tag, send a text to Ken Gunther (010-9101-4233).
7. Please write your prayer concerns on the prayer request card and put it in the offering basket.
8. Hymnals are on sale at 14,000 Won.
Today’s Greeter and Usher: David Lee and Mark Yoon
Today’s Fellowship: Maggie Lee
