Any Dream Will Do

I closed my eyes, drew back the curtain
To see for certain what I thought I knew
Far far away, someone was weeping
But the world was sleeping
Any dream will do
…

May I return to the beginning
The light is dimming, and the dream is too
The world and I, we are still waiting
Still hesitating
Any dream will do
Any dream will do
Any dream will do

            Andrew Lloyd Weber & Tim RiceAny Dream Will Do

When I was in my first philosophy class in college, the professor asked us if we had ever looked up at the sky and wondered.  She then said if you have ever done that you are a philosopher.  I spent many an hour gazing at the sky and stars and dreaming.  How many of you spend time wondering, dreaming?  Do you have dreams for your family?  Do you have dreams for the church?  Do you have dreams for the world?  Have you ever considered which of these dreams are a nudge from God and which are your own. 

This week as I have been thinking about the story of Joseph, I keep singing Any Dream Will Do.  This is an interesting song, because in the story of Joseph in Genesis, will any dream do?  Think about the first dream Joseph has.  He dreamed stars and wheat would bow down to him.  He knew that these stars and wheat were his father and brothers.  Being a kid, he shared this dream with the family and annoyed his brothers who already believe he was dad’s favorite.  This leads his life to take a drastic turn which includes - family drama, slavery, sexual harassment, and prison.  Yet he dreamed a dream from God.  This isn’t just any dream; it’s a dream that would save his family and people.  God worked to transform Joseph, so that when his dream came into being, Joseph was able to feed the people of Egypt and the starving neighbors which included his brothers and father.

Ordinary people like you and I are given dreams that can move our church, our community closer to God’s dream of the Kingdom Coming.  So what are your dreams for First Congregational UCC, what are your dreams for Lake Geneva?  Spend time pondering these dreams and share them.  Share the dream and together we can work to bring your dreams to reality.

We start our new sermon series on Joseph October 7.  In this series, we walk through Genesis 37-50 as we explore the ups and downs of Josephs' life. If you have ever wondered where God was in the midst of your hardships, this series is for you.  If you ever wondered about your completely dysfunctional family, this series is for you.  If you have ever wondered if your dreams have a larger purpose, this series is for you. 

October   7          Joseph Dreams                                      Genesis 37:1-11

October 14          You thought Your Family Was Bad!       Genesis 37:1-12

October 21          Sexual Harassment                                 Genesis 39:1-23

October 28          Prisoner’s Dream                                   Genesis 40:1-23

November 4        Pharaoh’s Dream                                   Genesis 41:1-57

November 11      Your abusive Brother’s Want Help         Genesis 42-45

November 18      Forgiveness                                            Genesis 50

Help us fill Joseph's Grainery

The seven years of plenty that prevailed in the land of Egypt came to an end; and the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in every country, but throughout the land of Egypt there was bread. When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, ‘Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do.’ And since the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses,and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. Moreover, all the world came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine became severe throughout the world. Genesis 41:53-57

As Joseph filled his grainery, we are also going to fill our grainery.  For each week of our sermon series on Joseph you are invited to bring food for the Lake Geneva Emergency Food Pantry.

October   7      Pasta

October 14      Rice

October 21      Potatoes

October 28      Tomato Sauce

November 4    Peanut butter and Jelly

November 11  Cereal

November 18  Fruit