Moses and Aaron

 WE GATHER 

PRELUDE 

BRINGING IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST 

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS 

*HYMN "I Believe in the Sun" See Screen 

*CALL TO WORSHIP 

L: Every generous act of giving is a tribute to God’s love for us. 

P: Lord, let us be people of generous and abundant gifts for others. L: Be ready to listen and slow to react in anger. 

P: Lord, prepare us to be peaceful people. 

L: Keep your hearts and spirits ready to serve the Lord. 

P: Lord, open our hearts to hear and respond to your words of life in ministries of hope and peace. AMEN. 

*OPENING PRAYER (IN UNISON) 

Lord of mercy and abundant love, we have gathered here this day to hear your healing words of compassion and to be transformed by your love. Help us to become more faithful servants in our thoughts, words, and deeds. It is in Jesus’ Name, we pray. AMEN. 

*HYMN " I Dream of a Church" See Screen 

WE PROCLAIM GOD'S WORD 

CHILDREN’S CHAT 

OLD TESTAMENT READING 

Exodus 32: 1-14 

The Golden Calf

32 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 Aaron said to them, “Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took these from them, formed them in a mold,[a] and cast an image of a calf, and they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it, and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a festival to the Lord.” 6 They rose early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought sacrifices of well-being, and the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to revel.

7 The Lord said to Moses, “Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; 8 they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ ” 9 The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. 10 Now let me alone so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, and of you I will make a great nation.”

11 But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ” 14 And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.

MUSICAL INTERLUDE AND OFFERING 

NEW TESTAMENT READING 

James 1: 17-27 

17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.[a] 18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave birth to us by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Hearing and Doing the Word

19 You must understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20 for human anger does not produce God’s righteousness.[b] 21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves[c] in a mirror; 24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

26 If any think they are religious and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Reader: The Living Word of God for the people of God. 

People: Thanks be to God. 

MESSAGE “Moses and Aaron” Pastor Natalie 

Friends, we’re now at week 5 of this 6 part sermon series I put together about one of the most foundational of our Old Testament patriarchs: Moses.

I’ve approached every one of these sermons through the lens of a character in the story who plays a significant role in Moses’ life–first his adoptive mother, Pharaoh’s daughter, then God, then the Pharaoh he confronts, then his sister Miriam. And if Miriam was the Chuck Cunningham of the Bible, then the character we’re looking at today is the Ethel Mertz of the Bible: Moses’ brother Aaron. The second banana, the older, frumpy one who is outshone at every turn by the one under the spotlight. Maybe it’s my middle child syndrome acting up, but I always felt bad for Aaron. The star of the story is Moses. Moses gets the beautiful adoption story, and the childhood spent in the palace. Moses even gets a story about his first career as a shepherd. What was Aaron’s childhood like? How did he fare under a Pharaoh who wanted all the Hebrew boys killed? We have no idea, we hear nothing at all about him until he’s 83 years old. Imagine someone writing multiple very long books about your brother’s life and not even bothering to mention you until your 83rd birthday party. And to be clear, this isn’t just me projecting, the authors of these books make the pecking order very clear. When God charges Moses to confront the Pharaoh and free the Hebrews from slavery, Moses brings up his “faltering lips”--he’s not the most eloquent public speaker. Did he have a stuttering problem? Or did he get his words mixed up? We can’t be completely sure. But in any case, it’s because Moses can’t handle the talking part by himself that Aaron gets brought into this, and then God tells Moses “See, I have made you like a God to Pharaoh, and Aaron will be your prophet.” Oof.

But, despite only being brought on board to be Moses’ mouthpiece, Aaron shows up and brings it. He’s loyal to his brother and his people, he’s brave in facing off with Pharaoh and every one of Pharaoh’s henchmen, and maybe all he had to do was speak for Moses, but with a perspective shift, we also see that Aaron supports and empowers his brother. This may not be an equitable relationship, but it’s one that unquestionably brings out the best in both brothers and one that, most importantly, leads the Hebrews to freedom.

But this very, very long story is filled with distress that spills out from the pages, and countless situations where the Hebrews avoid death by a hair. When the matzah they escaped Egypt with runs out, the Hebrews confront Moses and accuse him of bringing them to the wilderness to starve them. Moses pleads with God for help, and God delivers manna and edible bird meat. Then the safe drinking water runs out, and once again the Hebrews turn on Moses in rage. Once again, Moses begs God for help, because if he doesn’t die from thirst, he’ll get ripped apart by his furious followers. And again, God comes through, and provides water from a rock when Moses strikes it. Moses takes the brunt of the anger and blame, and keeps standing up for the protection of the Hebrews even when they’re threatening to kill him, but even though Moses is absorbing the danger and distress of this journey like a sponge, everyone is feeling it, and Aaron is second in command. If one of these perilous situations finally does take Moses’ life, Aaron will have to take over on his own.

When we look at Aaron’s fears that way, it makes it a lot easier to understand why he folded like a cheap lawn chair in this morning’s story. Moses has taken off to receive the Law from God. Exodus tells us that Moses has been gone for forty days and forty nights, and even on face value that means he’s been gone for at least a month and a half. But, since “forty days and forty nights” is effectively biblical shorthand for “a really, really long time”, we can infer that Moses has been away for what feels like an eternity to the Hebrews. And sure, he said where he was going, and why, but it’s not like Aaron can just whip out his phone and shoot Moses a quick text–”hey bro, you still good?” Aaron and the rest of the Hebrews have no way of knowing if Moses is really ok, and when he will ever come back. By now, with all the danger they have faced, they have many logical reasons to assume that Moses has died from starvation or thirst, or he got sick, or he was attacked by a wild animal or by an unfriendly tribe. And if that did happen, what are the Hebrews supposed to do now?

Aaron has the benefit of a closer relationship with YHWH because he’s been helping Moses, but even for him this is very new. He’s first in command for the very first time, tasked with keeping the Hebrews safe while Moses is gone, and now everyone is looking to him for leadership. And surrounded by the angry, frightened mob…Aaron follows the path of least resistance.

“Alright, everybody, give me all your gold jewelry, and we’ll make our very own god out of it,” says Aaron. And before we judge him, really, how often do we turn to the fake god of gold and materialism when we get impatient with our actual God?

Meanwhile, Moses is still on Mount Sinai, carefully taking notes from the Divine, which makes him the very first person in history to download information from the cloud onto his tablet. But then God uses the Holy Eyes to check in on the kiddos downstairs, and sees precisely what God doesn’t want to see: a little gold cow sitting on a DIY altar, and the Hebrews frolicking around it and shouting “halle-moo-jah!”

Sticking up for the Hebrew people yet again when now even God is ready to throw in the towel, Moses stomps down the mountain, and arrives at base camp just in time to see the Hebrews doing the Golden Calf Conga, led by his brother. I have to imagine the first words out of Moses’ mouth were an ancient version of “Dude, you had one job.”

Aaron, speaking in his defense, explains that yes, he put the gold in the fire, but he didn’t make the little cow. It just came out, kind of like when you put a dollar in that machine at the zoo and it makes you the little wax bear. I’m sure Moses’ response was dripping with sarcasm, so it’s a shame the author didn’t record it. Moses’ next move is to take the little cow, grind it into powder, pour it into water, and make the Hebrews drink it. Worst kool-aid ever. It’s safe to say that now even Moses has cracked.

Being a family is really hard. Living in this world is really hard, even under fairly normal circumstances. Sometimes we aren’t our best selves, and we infuriate our brothers and sisters. But even then, by Divine grace and human courage, we move on, and the sun still comes up the next morning. Because of his literal meltdown in this story, Moses doesn’t arrive in the Promised Land, but the people he loves get to settle there. God doesn’t give up on them. Moses forgives his dufus of a brother, and eventually anoints Aaron to be the very first High Priest of the Israelites. So if you find yourself feeling overshadowed and taken for granted, scared, abandoned, and tempted by peer pressure, just know you’ll get through this, and it gets better.

Amen.

*HYMN "I Choose Love" See Screen 

WE RESPOND 

APOSTLES CREED (UNISON) UMH# 882 

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic** church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

COMMUNION 

THE LORD’S PRAYER 

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. 

JOYS & CONCERNS 

PASTORAL PRAYER 

Let us pray for the poor, hungry, and neglected all over the world,

that their cries for daily bread may inspire works of compassion and mercy

among those to whom much has been given.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Let us pray for schools and centers of learning throughout the world,

for those who lack access to basic education,

and for the light of knowledge to blossom and shine in the lives of all God’s people.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Let us pray for an end to the divisions and inequalities

that scar God’s creation,

particularly the barriers to freedom

faced by God’s children throughout the world because of gender;

that all who have been formed in God’s image

might have equality in pursuit of the blessings of creation.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Let us pray for the health of women, children,

and families around the world,

especially for an end to maternal and child mortality,

that in building healthy families,

all God’s people may be empowered to strengthen their communities

and repair the breaches which divide nations and peoples.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Let us pray for an end to pandemic disease throughout the world,

particularly the scourges of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis;

that plagues of death may no longer fuel poverty, destabilize nations,

and inhibit reconciliation and restoration throughout the world.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Let us pray for an end to the waste and desecration of God’s creation,

for access to the fruits of creation

to be shared equally among all people,

and for communities and nations to find sustenance

in the fruits of the earth and the water God has given us.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Let us pray for all nations and people

who already enjoy the abundance of creation

and the blessings of prosperity,

that their hearts may be lifted up to the needs of the poor and afflicted,

and partnerships between rich and poor for the reconciliation of the world

may flourish and grow.

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

~ from the Episcopal Office of Government Relations, United States. Posted on Church World Service’s Making Poverty History page. http://hunger.cwsglobal.org/hungerbooklet/prayer.html 

*HYMN How Great Thou Art UMH 77 

SENDING FORTH WITH BLESSING 

POSTLUDE