Scripture Text (NRSV)
Acts 9:36-43
9:36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha,
which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of
charity.
9:37 At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed
her, they laid her in a room upstairs.
9:38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that
Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to
us without delay."
9:39 So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they
took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him,
weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made
while she was with them.
9:40 Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and
prayed. He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up." Then she
opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.
9:41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the
saints and widows, he showed her to be alive.
9:42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the
Lord.
9:43 Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain
Simon, a tanner.
Comments:
When Dorcas, faithful minister to the widows of Joppa, fell ill and
died, Peter raised her back to life through the power of prayer.
In this story of the very early days of the church, a disciple named
Tabitha, or Dorcas, dies and is brought back to life through the
prayers of the apostle Peter. Consider the "shepherds" of this story:
Tabitha was a shepherd of her flock, "a woman of good works and acts
of charity"; Peter is the shepherd who tends to her; the Holy Spirit
is the shepherd attested to throughout the book of Acts, here
restoring life and empowering ministry.
I am looking for a specific joke. An author of sermons also authored a
sermon joke book in the 80's. The joke had to do with a rabbit and
watermellons falling off a truck or a wagon. I'd appreciate any leads.
Thanks, Irrev
Ever notice how many "Tab-a-thas" there are around today? The
influence of baby boomers' children (they watched Bewitched and never
knew how to spell it).
Quite a few Chasity's, too, come to think of it.
I'm pretty cynical, I suppose - but it's interesting that if it isn't
in the "mainline" of the Gospel (you know, Christmas, Easter, etc),
folks don't know the origin of the name? More influenced by TV than by
the book of Acts.
Or am I wrong and Tab-a-tha is an alternate spelling of the name?
In any case, Tabitha, revived became known throughout Joppa, and many
believed in the Lord. No magic tricks to that, eh?
Kind of interesting how our names reflect our generations, huh?
Sally in GA
I learned in seminary the road map to biblical interpretation involves
considering what we have previously heard about a text as part of our
insight. The most profound sermon that I heard about Tabitha/ Dorcas
was at a funeral, in which the preacher centered in on the good works
that the woman did. The widows stood around her bed holding up the
symbols of her good works. The tunics that she had sewn. May the work
I've done speak for me. But notice also that Tabitha is refered to as
a disciple.A female disciple. Good works often get a bad rap in modern
Christianity in which the emphaisis is on Take Jesus into your heart.
But for this woman, her good works sewing for widows is the only
explanation of her discipleship. I also noticed all of the Acts
scripture references in the weeks to come. Could build a series on
discipleship. Gen
I am going to focus my sermon on this passage rather than the gospel
of John. It has got me thinking about the familiar question: What
would you like people to say about you at your funeral? We worry a lot
about our "legacy," how (and if) we will be remembered and whether our
lives will have made a difference. However we interpret this miracle,
Tabitha clearly made a very real difference for some of the poorest
outcasts of that time, the widows. Her work and her spirit will not
die, and God makes sure that people notice the importance of her acts
of charity. The resurrection power of Jesus Christ flows through both
Peter and Tabitha and into this circle of women gathered in community.
Elijah also brought a widow back to life, but she lived alone with her
son. This community around Tabitha bears witness to God's power to
turn mourning into joy; the women are there to proclaim Tabitha's
compassion and good works. Truly the 12 disciples and many more such
as Tabitha have gone out into the world spreading the good news of
Jesus Christ through their lives. How then shall we live? Ruth in CT
Peter put all of them outside! Interesting decision. The disciples
from Joppa did not expect a miracle, yet Peter decided to ask God for
one. this is simply just amazing faith and insight.
father God, please help me to be able to be so in tune with you, that
could have similar insight and faith to ask for miraculous results
like flat in ministry too.
Coho, Midway City.
I'm trying to communicate a metaphor for sewing as a means of
witnessing. Though, it was Tabitha's restoration to life that became
known and witnessed.
I'm just a beginner in sewing, but I'd appreciate any sewing stories
or examples...
you cut the pattern (the part I hate), then pin it to the fabric, then
sew it together (the part I love) and hem it and give it touches.
Presumably, Tabitha didn't have McCall's (my favorite) ...
Sally in GA
I am interested in seeing that it is Peter, the rock, the church, that
raises Tabitha from death. Is the church trying to wake us up from our
spiritual death?
The problem with the interpretation above according to the text is
that Tabitha was a good disciple whom everyone loved It will be hard
to make her represent the spiritual dead.
Coho, Midway City
To Sally in GA, Your inquiry looking for stories about sewing jogged
my mind about a conversation I had today with a parishoner. It's about
an organization called Project Linus (go to Google to find their
website). Project Linus gives homemade blankets to children who are
seriously ill and/or traumatized. The love with which the blanket is
made helps to comfort and heal the child.
Thanks for your question, because it really helped me "make the leap"
to a current application of the power of disciples like Tabitha, who
ministered to the most vulnerable in her own community. Judy in TX
God gave Peter this miracle he requested to Tabitha. The result was,
not only the return of life to the girl, but "many believed in the
Lord."
This act of grace, love, mercy and power by God gave credibility to
Peter and his message of the "Good News" to the others. Remember, the
disciples had a hard time believing the risen Christ at first and
Jesus had told them this would happen. Many of these people Peter was
witnessing to probably had a hard time believing also. I believe the
moral of this story is credibility in witnessing.
To take it to today, what miracles can we personally claim that God
has provided in our lives? Don't these stories lend credibility to our
full-filling of the Great Commission?
unsigned:
An interesting thought to ponder and to use as a metaphor. One caveat:
I do not believe that the reviving of Tabitha was intended to be an
allegory.
Sally
oops, sorry for the two-posts, but I responded to the unsigned before
I saw Coho's.
Coho- hmmm... I could make a case that there are a lot of good
disciples who are well-loved and do lots of nice things for others who
are less than alive, if it's possible to be less than alive.
Sally
Just a question...how do we know that Tabitha wasn't a widow herself?
She was "with them" apparently...the picture I have is of a quilter
lady (we have lots of them in the Lutheran church) who died...maybe
she was even older, but apparently it wasn't her time yet. So maybe
she was just one of the widows who all do good works? The ladies at my
former church sent over thousands (yep, thousands!) of quilts to India
each year. Many widows, too. It does sound like Tabitha was a leader
among them though. Hm... Peace, Beth, in GA too (hi Sally!)
I will be preaching for UMW Sunday at one of the churches in my charge
this Sunday. I had selected a tentative title of "Working Women" for
this sermon, thinking only in terms of the work of the women of the
UMW (in its various forms & names over neearly 200 years) for mission.
Then I read something in the "Previous Discussion" postings that
sparked an idea for for me. One of the posters focused on v. 41 ("He
gave her his hand and helped her up.") and the importance of each
person giving a hand to others.
Given the many "hands" that the UMW (and the various women's societies
of other denominations) have offered to the world, this seems a good
starting point for my thinking this week.
Robbie in KS
Speaking of quilters ... One of the churches in my first appointment
had 9 members, with a regular attendance of 7 (actually, it
statistically worked out to some fraction between 6 and 7). The church
had, to my knowledge, never taken in new members that weren't related
to the "charter" families. However, there was a sweet spirit there.
They didn't see how they drove people off, but it wasn't because they
were mean or ill-tempered. It was because they were overwhelming! and
with the kids and everybody else all gone - and the average age in the
late 70's, well ... any kind of revival would be pretty difficult.
No one had the heart to close the church, even though they weren't
"going and making disciples." In serving there, I learned why .
The physically-capable men (both of them) kept the lawn and sign and
building impeccable!!! Even my daughter, at 7 years old, noticed it.
They didn't hire anyone; they pushed the mowers themselves, and
composted the clippings.
The women got together in the fellowship hall every Wednesday for an
8-hour shift of quilting. They'd take an hour off for lunch, and come
back. They bought the tops, they didn't piece them themselves, but
they made queen-size and baby quilts every Wednesday. They held a
craft bazaar every Fall. Their apportionments were paid 100% and they
gave to special offerings (even making the top-ten in per-member
giving list for one).
These were not wealthy women. One woman, in her 80's, had a husband
with Alzheimer's, and you could see the exhaustion in her face. They
were a source of sanity for me, as they taught me to quilt, and were
just good ol' shots in the arm during a difficult appointment. The
only ones who came out and said, "the only reason some folks are
giving your grief is because you're a woman!"
Good works from the quilting bee. Opal, Blanche, and Lucy!
Sally
Gosh, when you think about it, haven't we had a lot of Tabithas in our
lives?
Opal, Blanche, Lucy, Polly, Ollie, another Polly, Willie, Sue, Judy,
"Ma Dooley," Gertrude, another Lucy, Marge, Lillian, Barbara, Martha
...
Just a few (all laywomen) who've "kept me going" through their words
and/or their works. How easy it is for me to forget my Tabithas in the
midst of the antagonists!
Sally in GA
I'm thinking about a link between the Acts and Revelation texts:
garments. Dorcas made clothing, and the assembled multitudes are
distinctively robed in white.
What would you do if you had to make clothing, beginning with you and
a sheep? Would you know how to shear, wash, card, spin, and weave the
wool before knitting or sewing it? All that labour is the true cost of
a garment. Dorcas knew that kind of work, and her community
appreciated her hard work.
But since most of our clothing is made overseas, we don't appreciate
the true cost. This is a social justice issue. If you don't believe
me, check your tags on all your apparel. Because we don't think of the
true cost in terms of the work of unknown women, we aren't
particularly grateful to them. Their employers don't need to be
grateful either, because if one pair of hands stops, there are plenty
more to take up the work.
The true cost of the white robes in Revelation is obviously the life
and death and resurrection of Jesus. Talk about going back to basics -
clothing that begins with you and a sheep (the Lamb)
Just a few scattered post-it notes of ideas...
LF
Sally in GA
Thanks for your question about sewing and are there any metaphors that
work. Being a man, in my 30’s, it’s hard for people to understand,
even my wife sometimes, that it was sewing that helped me understand
that I needed to be in full-time ministry. The year before I accepted
the ‘Call’ I made 5 quilts, machine top, hand quilt. Hand quilting is
wonderful prayer time; up and down, up and down, over and over and
over again. A quilt itself is a great metaphor for the trinity. There
is a back, the batting, and the top which everyone recognizes by the
pattern. Then there are literally 1000’s of stitches holding these
three together making it one quilt (not sure what the stitches
represent, perhaps my faith and trust in my Lord that holds me
together). But the stitching by hand is when the real prayer time
happens. Tabitha didn’t have a Singer. Giving your hands something to
do, can really free up your spirit to be with God. I understand the
Rosary from our catholic brothers and sisters better now. They have
beads, I have stitches.
MM in OH
Another quilting ministry is Prayer and Squares. The group just
started their ministry in the congregation I serve. They make small
quilts for persons with identified needs - illnesses, losses,
struggles - and the quilts are "tied" by persons who offer a prayer as
they tie a knot. The quilt is then given as a visible/tangibles
presence of the prayers and love of other Christians and of the loving
presence of God in the midst of life. It is a powerful ministry. We
will be tying a quilt on Sunday. It is a very powerful message.
Apreachin in Manassas, VA
LF - thanks for your thoughts! Entirely appropriate "weave" between
the shepherd and the sewing.
Here's another "quilt" metaphor. I took the idea from an acquaintance
in seminary, who loved to do crafts. I always admired both her
ingenuity and industrial nature. She had a rabbit and she'd take the
shed fur and spin it into yarn. The yarn she knitted into a shawl,
saying a prayer every row.
When I got to my first appointment (the one I had such difficulty
with), I noticed that so many of the women made crafts! Lots of them
crocheted, knitted, cross-stitched, and whatnot, and their work was
lovely! So, I took my friend's idea and got together a group and we
made the crochet-pattern called "granny squares." Every square was a
prayer for someone - we labeled them with the name or concern - and as
they were answered, we removed the label and after we got enough of
them, one of the women crocheted them together into a lap quilt. We
gave the lap quilts, then, to the nursing home. Last count, they'd
made a total of 54 quilts and that was a few years ago! Even 'the
appointment from hell' had its bright spots.
Sally in GA
Following up on the question of "what's in a name", I wonder two
things.
One - was the difference between calling the woman "Dorcas" and
"Tabitha" related to her relationship with Christ? I think of how
Simon became Simon Peter and how Saul became Paul through their own
encounters with Jesus.
Two - is there any correlation between the name "Tabitha" and the Mark
5 account of Jesus raising the little girl from death with the words "Talitha
koum"?
Hopefully I'm not just chasing rabbits here. . .
ERS in SD
I had a thought as I was pondering the text over lunch ...
It can't be because she made clothes that she was missed! It can't be
ONLY because she was sympathetic to "the least of these ..." The
widows were grieving Tabitha/Dorcas - not their tunics.
Therefore, the line from the Psalm came to me: "My cup runs over ..."
What they're grieving is that her cup (she wsa a disciple) ran over
and onto them. They received more from her than clothes; they received
a heartfelt mercy.
How often in our churches is "mission" another word for "giveaway" but
it's kept at arm's length without giving much from our own overflowing
cups! We collect school supplies in the Fall, for example. We get a
good many, but what kind of witness is it really - is it that of an
overflowing cup, or is it a sharing of a cup that's full but not yet
overflowing. I doubt the school would bring the crayons and papers and
grieve over our church's death as the widows did over Tabitha's.
It seems that Dorcas' / Tabitha's cup flowed over.
Sally in GA
Sally: I have been encouraged by your sharing of your 'bright spots'
while in the 'appointment from hell'! I feel I am in a similar
position, except no quilters, but bright spots.
It occurs to me that offering others things we have made for them with
our own hands is a practical way of blessing them and witnessing for
Christ. Dorcas was a 'disciple' it says in the scripture. She followed
with the works of her hands - a unique ministry, but one which abounds
today.
Thanks Sally Wendy in NB, Canada
I was wrong earlier:
Sewing isn't Tabitha/Dorcas' metaphor for witnessing; it's her
metaphor for WORSHIPING!!!
It's her WORSHIP that fed her witness ...
Sally in GA
Which theologian coined the term "WomanChurch?" I'm wanting to say
Rebecca Chopp, one of my professors - but she might have been teaching
someone ELSE'S term at the time. I simply can't remember.
The concept, anyway, is that for women, life itself becomes a means of
worship - the productive tasks of, say, washing dishes are forms of
worship. I'm thinking of a qualifying phrase that may or may not be in
alignment with WomanChurch: "at its best ..."
WomanChurch, women's spirituality, is comprised of the daily tasks and
incorporated into the very fabric of life ... that is, at its best --
when it's not dictated as a "gracious submission to perform menial
tasks." It's an empowering, living spirituality.
Sally in GA
Hi Sally: I don't think we've met. I live in rural NEw Brnswick in
Canada.
Yes...I see what you're saying...working with her hands was Dorcus'
worship which led to her witness. That's neat...like Brother Lawrence
maybe? practicing the presence of God.
I have thought of a parish 'Dorcas' here who recently died. I think
Dorcas is a disciple whose 'handy' ministry many women can relate to
and men too. I liked your stories of the quilters who kept their
church alive and the 'granny' squares. Do you mind if I mention them
in my sermon?
Wendy in Canada
I'm not familiar with Woman church...but think I've heard of it.
Wendy - go right ahead! I'm pleased that you found them meaningful
enough to quote in the first place!
I was at a seminar in NS recently and there were a number of folks
from Canada. Being really ignorant of Canada's geography, I thought
you might be the Wendy I met from Canada at that seminar. There are 2
Rev. Wendy's from Canada (at least!)
Sally in GA
I'm going to decorate with one of the "prayer shawl" quilts (that's
what the group ended up calling itself - the Prayer Shawls) that they
gave me when I was pregnant. Plus, one of the 2 queen-size quilts the
other church made. Officer Proper will probably get her nose bent out
of joint, but lah dee dah.
Anyways, I bought my church a chalice in NS and we're going to
consecrate it. Therefore, I'm going to use thsoe "works of the hands -
a la Ps. 91" as a means of worshiping from an overflowing cup.
What Dorcas/Tabitha offered was her very fabric - an event of worship,
not just a good deed. She was a disciple, not a philanthropist. Like
in The Wizard of Oz - when the Tin Man wanted a heart and the Wizard
said some doers of good deeds were "good deed doers," but that what
Tin Man offered was himself.
Sally in GA
I teach a High School Sunday school class. Each week I try to help
them make some sense in their lives on the selections from the revised
common letionary.
I just wanted to thank all of you for your comments each week on the
scriptures. I read them, and I use them. Jim in VA
Sally: Now I understand why you thought you might have met me. NS is
not that far...the next province over from NB. I am wondering where
you were in NS. Now for my ignorance...is GA Georgia? That seems a
long way from NS.
I love your latest post aboutTabitha offering her self...that is, more
than just a good deed.
Your story about your first appointment also interests me. It seems to
me you posted a long time ago that once out of that place, the next
appointment was a different story???
WendyCan
Saturday night.
Certainly this will be the last entry before this discussion thread
will be archived. Perhaps someone will found this three year from now
when the lectionary cycle return.
It was a tough week for me, eventhough I don't preach from the
lectionary. I am preaching through Romans and were "hanging out" here
for my own study. I have been very weary on this us/them position in
the Gospel section. Finally, as I take refuge here, I found an
interesting parable...
So, Dorcas died and the disciples got one of us there. What would we
do there? The universalist would preach a great pastoral message,
gather people around to start a "Dorcas Fund" to continue her work. On
the opposite spectrum, the inerrantist would gather the church
together for a revival meeting (literally trying to revive Dorcas back
to life).
And then there was many others, like Peter (or maybe my own persona,
or yours too, in disguised). We were confused, don't really know what
to do. So we went back to our memory of what would Jesus do. Yes, our
Lord had raised severals from the dead, and He prooved himself as the
resurrection and the life. So perhaps I could raise Dorcas as well...
However, just to be sure (remember the last time when we pray for
miracle and it didn't happened?) We are going to "put all of them
outside" and pray (Hey, that's not lack of faith; the Master "put all
of them outside" too, in Mark 5 - except He knew what He were doing so
He kept a few back with Him. And then we pray, and then we called her
to get up. Wait a minute! Something was moving! She opened her eyes!
It works! The Lord answered our prayer, my prayer! (This time at
least!)
So much for the habits we often have. Chances are, if you were raised
and educated in a certain theological bending, you will continue to
keep its habits. Wanna know what I am going to do from now on? I will
"put all of them outside", remember what my Lord did, and pray first.
Who knows, the Lord might answer me this time. If not, I can always
preach a pastoral sermon and organize a Dorcas fund later...
Coho, Midway City.
Three days later,
I had an additional thoughts on this whole matter. How would one's
theological orientation influence one's evangelistic actions? If
universalism was just an excuse for my lack of evangelism, or my
resignation for advancing the Kingdom (for God saves everybody
anyway), then it clearly was for my own interest and not God's.
Similarily, if particularism was an excuse for my lack of evangelism,
or my resignation for advancing the Kingdom (for nothing I do will
matter much to God's predestined plan), then it clearly was for my own
interest and not God's either.
Coho, Midway City.
