First Presbyterian Church of Potsdam, New York

A community gathering in Christ and ministering as God leads

Spiritual Life

Links to follow to help you develop a daily devotional practice

• Daily Lectionary This lectionary resource is provided by the Office of Worship, Theology, and Discipleship of the General Assembly Council. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
• Daily Devotionals This online resource is from the 2005 Devotional Yearbook for Prayer and Study, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Monthly "Note From Pastor Rich" (from the Parish Paper - January, 2006)

I’m finding more and more that I am not one for celebrating New Years Eve. What, in former years (or lifetimes, it seems) was a time to revel and party, appears to now be just another day, and a passage of time as it blurs from one moment to the next. Still, I did stay up to watch the famous Times Square ball descend to mark the end of 2005 and the beginning of 2006, hoping to get a glimpse of Dick Clark (which I didn’t) who unfortunately suffered a massive stroke keeping him from last year’s festivities. The throng that gathered was excitedly counting down the seconds—six-five-four-three-two-one—HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Hearing some of the enthusiasm about the Waterford Crystal Ball on a radio program earlier in the week, I decided to do a little research. It certainly was bigger than I expected and I was not aware that the powers that be redesigned and built the current one for the 2000 millennial hype. It has 600 clear and colored high-intensity halogen bulbs and 96 halogen strobe lights that bedeck both the interior and exterior of the globe. What was even more interesting was the decision of Philips Electronics (the creator of the electrical mechanics) to retrofit the 1,070 pound geodesic ball next season with an interior of more efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and then in 2007/08, the entire sphere will be completely redesigned to use all LEDs. The purpose appears to be two-fold: to conserve energy and to make the ball brighter and ‘more sparklier.’

Even though one might not be ‘into’ a major celebration at New Year’s Eve, one cannot disregard the possibilities of a New Year. Decisions to enhance well-known festive occasions by making them brighter and at the same time being responsible in energy conservation are sound decisions whether or not everyone partakes of those occasions. Rethinking and reorganizing to make things more efficient certainly have merit and can spur innovative and imaginative minds to greater and more exciting options. In our personal lives, resolutions to improve ourselves and/or our situations, have been in the past and assuredly will be in the future, occasions for excitement, challenges, some angst, but many opportunities. The key ingredient is the discipline to carry those resolutions to fruition. In the church as well, combining innovation and creativity with sound conservation practices while resolving to improve the ministry responsibilities given us by God necessitates commitment, hard work, diligence and discipline.

At First Presbyterian Church we proclaim to be “A community gathering in Christ and ministering as God leads.” God certainly has led this incredible community of faith in special directions: among our members and friends; into the community in service and outreach; into the world cooperating with presbytery and synod mission projects; in the spirit of meaningful worship and education. All of these endeavors cannot take place without God’s guidance and the priesthood of saints who carry out Christ’s work. I urge the leadership in particular and the fellowship in general to resolve to make 2006 a year of continuing discovery, dedication, diligence and discipline. Spiritual discovery and discipline go hand in hand with the realities of the times, present and future, as we engage energy challenges, emerging needs of our youth and young adults and ongoing fiscal stewardship strategies. Let us boldly accept these challenges with open minds and hearts, depending upon God’s grace and guidance, embracing Christ’s mandate to love one another and our neighbors as ourselves. Let us resolve to make Christ’s light brighter and our brothers’ and sisters’ loads easier.

Love, peace and grace,

Pastor Rich

(Archived Notes from Pastor Rich)

Sermon: "Getting the Clay Ready" (November 27, 2005)

Isaiah 64: 1-9 - —O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence—as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people.

There once was a potter. He was Master of His craft. He made the most beautiful vases and most usable drinking cups. He shaped the clay with skilled hands. In the blink of an eye a common serving bowl could be transformed into something grand and glorious. One day the Master left the workshop for a few moments. That's when something peculiar began to take shape in the Master Potter's shop.

A drinking cup was concerned that the Master Potter may return at any moment and remake it into a less noticeable vessel. Timidly, the vessel ventured closer to the Potter's Kiln and walked in. This event was not left unnoticed by the other pottery, still warmed by the touch of the Potter.

Soon a vase finds the flame an irresistible attraction. "A vase captures the scent of a thousand flowers and provides beauty for the Master's table." It began, "I must hurry if I am to be assured a place of honor at the Master's table." And with that, the little vase lost sight of the Potter's wheel. This was followed by a bowl and a decorative serving vessel. Soon every vessel but one became the vessel they had been temporarily shaped into as the flames of the kiln fire hardened them to the Master's touch. When the Master returned He was saddened to find only one lump of clay remained from the work He had begun. One by one the self-satisfied vessels emerged from the kiln thrilled that they had become what they had always hoped to be. The Master Potter rose and took the first vessel and traced the lines that had been lumpen clay not so long ago. Then He did a most peculiar thing - He picked up the last remaining vessel on His wheel and dropped it to the ground. All the other vessels looked on as the bowl became misshapen and seemed beyond repair. They were suddenly very glad that they had taken it upon themselves to finish the work of the Potter themselves. With great sadness the Potter took the first vessel He had only recently received and dropped it to the ground as well. The vessel became useless shards on the floor as the other vessels looked on in horror. The Master Potter gently retrieved the lump of smashed clay and placed it firmly back on His wheel and an even greater vessel emerged. He then picked up some of the broken pieces of the baked pottery and placed them on the wheel. It became apparent that there was little that could be done with that vessel. The Master Potter needed His clay to be pliable. The stubborn refusal of the hardened vessels to submit to His hand made it unfit for the Potter.

Then the Potter spoke.. “Don't I have the right to fashion this clay as I see fit? I make one vessel for practical use and another for its simple beauty. Some may be used for simple chores while others may grace the head table of a banquet hall. How is it possible for the clay to decide what I will do with it. Clay is simply clay, it only become something as it yields to My touch and design. Yet, today we have seen what happens when the clay decides what is best. Please tell me if you can, what use can I find for this vessel now?

One of the vessels that had taken it upon itself to enter the kiln reflected the shame of the others and replied, “We are the clay, and You are our Potter, and we all are the work of your hands. Do not be exceedingly angry. (Reference Isaiah 64:8.9)

The rest of the vessels join the first vessel and offer themselves back to the Master Potter who takes them one by one and places them on His work bench and returning to his wheel, begins yet again throwing more clay upon his wheel, shaping new vessels.

This little story, written as a combination Mime/Drama by Glenn A. Hascall, takes the words of the prophet Isaiah in verses 8 and 9 of this morning’s Old Testament passage and reminds us of the hand of God in our lives. It also speaks to the importance of patience and waiting for the Master Potter to do creative work in our lives. In addition, the concept of readiness or preparation is an essential ingredient in considering the entirety of the scripture reading. As we begin our Advent season this morning, and in the weeks to come, we will have a number of opportunities to ponder the wonderful gift that awaits us. Many of us would rather have the four weeks lumped into a few days, so we could get on with the celebration of the birth, share in the excitement of new life, revel in the traditions of gift giving and receiving. Yet, the prophet is significantly humble in the lament, the pleading for the God of Abraham and Jacob to be present in the lives of the Hebrew people. In this lament and pleading, Isaiah acknowledges for the people that they first of all are in great need. He admits the recalcitrant behavior of the people in their transgression, in their wavering faith. Isaiah speaks to the complicity in ignoring God and all that God has to offer the people. The people have reached the limit of their separation from God. The prophet implores God that the people are ready to again begin preparation for the presence of God in their lives.

“Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people. We are the clay, and you are our potter.” I find it quite interesting that the Hebrew translation did not say, you are ‘the’ potter, but the ‘one being potter of us’ (itz-reh-nu)—indicating the very personal relationship the people of Israel held they possessed with God. It is through this personal relationship that Isaiah had with God that he urges God to bring peace to a wavering people. Through the centuries previous to the writing of Isaiah, God had exercised great patience and faithfulness. I make the bold assumption that Isaiah is banking on this pattern continuing, but not taking it for granted. He in turn praises God and admits to the faithlessness of the people. Then pleading with great earnestness, he tells God that the people are ready to be less stubborn, more pliable, just as clay is to the hands of a Master Potter.

“We are the clay, and you are our potter.” If we truly believe that God can make a difference in our lives, can create a new being in us, we can believe that God’s hand is as present as our openness to God’s will, God’s grace, God’s gift of salvation to come. We must not rush God and God’s faithful purpose for us. We must be patient, listening, waiting, meditating, praying, expecting and preparing. As a wise fellow traveler on the journey of the Way shared with me, “We must be prepared to come to the table, always, and when we are ready, then we can truly take part in the life of the One who asks us to remember Him.” In the same token, getting our clay ready, means that we allow God’s hand to shape, mold, and make us ready, make our hearts, minds, and spirits ready for the Gift of the Promise and yield to God’s touch and design.

AMEN

(Archived Sermons by Pastor Rich)

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