"Forgotten
a condensed version of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Sunday, March 29, 2009 at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Somonauk, Illinois.

PODCAST of "Forgotten" (coming soon)

Love songs

I love to hear a good R & B love song. Let me listen to the soothing sounds of Barry White or Brian McKnight (I’ve been watching Celebrity Apprentice this season – and loved his singing on last week’s episode) with a song that celebrates people in love.

This week’s reading from Jeremiah 31:31-34 has a great love ballad line in it. I can hear the smooth tones of a singer belting it out with every bit of their soul:

I will write it on your hearts

Even though we broke apart

There’s no teaching left to do

Because you know that I love you

 

A brand new slate we’ll start

It don’t matter who you are

Because my love is always true

And remember. .

I love you.

Sappy? Sure – but add some instruments, harmonies, a good lead singer and a driving chorus -- and we’ve got a love song!

Maybe you need something to get that bit of awful sappiness out of your head:

Just an old-fashioned love song

Comin' down in 3-part harmony

Just an old-fashioned love song

One I'm sure they wrote for you and me

Three Dog Night - they knew how to write songs that meant something. Did you know that they’re still touring? Still doing the old fashioned love songs – They had a concert last night in Cleveland. And both of the hits we’ve sung this morning are from them – both released in 1971.

All right – one more time with that other song:

Jeremiah was a bull frog

Was a good friend of mine

I never understood a single word he said

But I helped him a-drink his wine

And he always had some mighty fine wine

Jeremiah: 31:31-34

Looking ahead after a whole lot of nastiness, pain and anguish

Something new is coming – not like it was before – this time it’ll be better – it will be deep in your hearts -- part of your DNA

This forgiveness, restoration and reconciliation from God comes from the Old Testament. Folks often say that the Old Testament is where we have the angry, wrathful God and in the New Testament we experience the forgiving, loving God.

If you still have that perception – it’s time to change directions. What’s the overall theme of the Bible?

God creates . . . we mess up . . . God redeems (forgives, reconciles) we mess up . . . God redeems . . . we mess up

It is woven through the Old and the New Testaments. It is completely evident in Jeremiah – This morning’s reading understands that folks have messed up and shows God doing what God does – redeeming, forgiving – reconciling.

But wait. This time God’s words seem so final. "This time I’ll write it on your hearts"

It’s as if this time – this’ll be the last time reconciliation is necessary.

Nope – it’s still necessary. But notice that here it doesn’t say, "I’m not doing it anymore!" It says, "I will remember their sin no more."

God does not throw up God’s arms and say "That’s it – I’m through!" God is still redeeming, forgiving, restoring, reconciling, listening,

And God is still speaking,

We are just a couple of weeks away from Easter.

During Lent we remember that we are a people who mess up. We experience and cause suffering, being outcast, marginalizing, rejection, loss and death.

But we’re also getting glimpses of what is to come – forgiveness, reconciliation, restoration, redemption – HOPE!

And in that hope we remember that each time we mess up, God does what God does so well. We get to start anew – with everything we’ve messed up forgotten.

Joy to the world

All the boys and girls, now

Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea

Joy to you and me

Close with prayer.

© 2009 Union Congregational Church, All Rights Reserved