Sermon July 24, 2011

Passionate about Service

Conclusion to Three part Sermon series on Being Presbyterian

Scripture: Proverbs 19: 17, Matthew 25:38-40 & 28:18-20

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ July 24, 2011

Unity Presbyterian Church ~ Terre Haute, Indiana

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE
Throughout the Bible we find messages that God stands on the side of the marginalized, the lost and lonely. God expects the people (the priesthood of God) to care for those in need. Here is a proverb and reflections by Jesus on these same subjects:

Proverbs 19: 17
17Whoever is kind to the poor
Lends to the Lord,
And will be repaid in full.

Matthew 25:38-40 & 28:18-20
25: 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’

28: 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Sermon
I am concluding this three part sermon series on being Presbyterian with a close look at why mission is so vital to our life together.

Isaiah was sent as a prophet to challenge and rebuke the powerful. His message was sever concerning any who took advantage of the weak:

Ah, you who make iniquitous decrees, who write oppressive statutes, 2to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be your spoil, and that you may make the orphans your prey! (Isaiah 10:1-20)

Combine this prophetic challenge with Jesus’ demand to care for the least among us and you have the marching orders for missions.

Many denominations have taken to heart that as a Priesthood of Believers we are called to serve those less fortunate than we are. Among Presbyterians this has become a hallmark of who we are. Just look at our Mission Yearbook of Prayer and Study discover the thousands of missions and missionaries all over the world that we support. Presbyterians have built colleges and hospitals in response to this call to serve. In the area of financial giving Presbyterians are very generous. The annual statistics for 2009 show total contributions of over 2 billion dollars. We even believe we need to make provisions for times of hunger and disaster like Joseph did with the abundance of Egypt. So we have our oldest special offering received on Easter. It is called One Great Hour of Sharing. Its main focus is disaster assistance and long term recovery. It also encourages the self-development of people. But the Presbyterian passion for service does not just mean missions far away, it is feeding the hungry right in our neighborhood. It is making sure a member or friend has a ride to the doctor or church. It is writing to a student in a school far from home and letting them know someone is praying for them.

We like to joke about being the frozen chosen because with our worships style, focus on education of the whole church and leadership that is thoughtful and deliberate we can seem controlled rather than passionate. But there is a fire that burns in the Presbyterian heart that says, "Come this is a safe place out of the dark and cold. Here you will find rest and hope." We are so passionate about keeping the fire of welcome burning. Some of you have met Tom Logan who vision and drive has created the Marion Medical Mission or our friend William Seo who while serving as an Army medic began a mission of helping Afghans. I have served in mission fields after terrible flooding and shared a meal with a family in their new home. I have worked a small part of new church construction after an arsonist thought they had the last word, but God always has the last word and it is a word of passion to serve. I have seen this passion in an eighty year old still heading to Mexico to help and in a child picking up debris after a tornado. Rob and I have been serving on a Administrative Commission of the Presbytery. Usually that is a pretty thankless job; such commissions are usually formed where there is conflict between a congregation and its pastor or allegations of wrong doing by leadership. But this commission has been formed to come along side a small congregation in Monroe City and its Lay Pastor. The church’s membership has so dwindled it can no longer function. But in their mission work they created a place of refuge called the Lord’s Warehouse. It is a food pantry and clothing bank and various other resources are available for people in need in one of the poorest counties in Indiana. The church’s resources come from a farm that was given several years ago. The Presbytery is working with the church to pass on these resources so the mission of the Lord’s Warehouse will continue even though the church is closing. It seems so right because we Presbyterians are passionate about service.

Now I ask you what are you passionate about.  God has placed a passion for service in every heart.  Some of us like to move in quickly and then go on to something else.  Presbyterians are in the for the long haul.  So consider ways that your passion can start small like Barb's food pantry here at Unity which began in just a little cabinet.  Now it is housed in a two car gargae size space.  From her passion others with a passion for gardening, began to suppliment the food pantry with produce from our garden. Once you can name your passion find a few others who have a simular passion and watch God work to make your passion grow into an amazing reality.  Amen.

Sermon July 17, 2011

Priesthood of All Believers

Second of Three part Sermon series on Being Presbyterian

Scripture Psalm 139: 1-14 and 1 Peter 2:4-10

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ July 17, 2011

Unity Presbyterian Church ~ Terre Haute, Indiana

 

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE
Psalm 139: 1-14
This is a comforting psalm in terms of God’s intimate knowledge of us and care for us. It is also a frightening psalm because to be known so intimately is ultimately to be open to the other. We know that our relationship with God, however comforting, is never entirely without awe and trepidation.

1O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
2You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.
3You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
4Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely.
5You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.
7Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?
8If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
9If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
10even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast.
11If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,”
12even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.

1 Peter 2:4-10
It is important to note that the term Peter uses “living stones” is not so much allegory as descriptive. “In antiquity objects that were perceived as firmly rooted in the earth (immoveable) were often referred to as ‘living.’" Since we live near Bedford, Indiana we know about rooted stones. Stones that are hard to get out of the ground. Are we so rooted?

4Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and 5like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For it stands in scripture: “See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,” 8and “A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

SERMON
When an officer or candidate for ministry is ordained in the Presbyterian Church one of the questions they are asked is:

―Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God?‖ (Book of Order, G-14.0405b(3) and W-4.003)

Most elders and deacons just look glazed over and say "I do."  So what are these essential tenets?
At one time the essential tenets of the Reformed Faith were defined by the acronym TULIP credited to John Calvin.

Total Depravity
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints

As you can imagine over time this list has fallen into disfavor. A real concrete list has not replaced it. I would like to be able to give you a list of what all Presbyterians agree, is essential to our shared faith. The list varies from church to church, presbytery to presbytery and individual deacon, elder and pastor.
Presbytery of St. Augustine came up with a list I could generally agree with:

ESSENTIAL TENETS:

• AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE
• GOD (Trinity, Creation, Providence, Sovereignty)
• HUMANITY – ORIGINAL RIGHTEOUSNESS AND FALL INTO SIN
• JESUS CHRIST – INCARNATION OF THE ETERNAL WORD
• JESUS CHRIST – HIS ATONING WORK
• SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

They then added

REFORMED DISTINCTIVES

• ELECTION FOR SALVATION AND SERVICE
• COVENANT AND COVENANT LIFE
• SACRAMENTS
• SANCTIFICATION AND THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
• PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS
• MISSION OF THE CHURCH
• STEWARDSHIP

For me most of these are no different than any other denomination except the Priesthood of All Believers.  At our national website you can read why the Priesthood of Believers is considered an essential tenet of the Reformed Faith:

Upon Israel's arrival at Mt. Sinai, Moses delivered startling news from God: "If you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be to me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:5-6). Not only was God declaring the nation's chosen status. The Israelites were all being appointed to be priests (literally, "king-priests")—every one of them!

To speak of people as priests is different from calling them clergy. Clergy serve some particular forms of service: pastor, preacher minister of the Word and Sacrament. But clergy are not more of a priest than any other believer.

The priestly function is one of bridge-building, mediating, connecting people with God. Consistent with God's commission to Abram and Sarah to be "a blessing to all the nations," the priest is one who mediates between God and those who do not know God. In the Temple era that changed as priests became the only ones to go before God with blood sacrifices on behalf of other Israelites. Like a negotiator, they would carry their clients' appeals to the one in power. They would stand in the gap, interceding on behalf of their neighbors.

While today we may dismiss the ancient sacrificial system, we cannot discount the sincere intentions of the millions who presented to the priests their finest heads of livestock or the first fruits of their harvest as acts of sacrificial devotion to God. Their sincere desire was for the priests to make a compelling appeal on their behalf for God to save their souls, or to heal their diseases, or to restore their land and livelihood.

This aspect of priesthood is implemented whenever a church activates its prayer chain. Christians have discovered that their intercessory prayers can yield miracles in many lives. Jesus himself taught, "If two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:19).

Just as a priest helps people connect with God, a priest also called to connect God with people. While the more charismatic office of prophet came to be associated with the task of speaking God's word in the Biblical days, the priests were not disinterested listeners. They too were teachers of God's word to the people. They were commissioned to take the good news of God's love and mercy to a world in need.

This priestly function is evident whenever Christians show and tell the power of the gospel. By both word and deed, believers are called to convey God's love to everyone. We are empowered to present the gifts and claims of Christ with confidence. God will go to great lengths to get the word of God's mercy out to the nations. As several epistles state, God has granted every member of Christ's body gifts and callings with which we can extend that mercy.

So if you are a believer in Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior, you are a priest in his service.

• In your baptism you were called to a ministry of witness to the love and grace of God.
• Believers is not different in quality or substance, but only in function.
• Through the power of the Holy Spirit the church sets aside the ministries of some believers to equip and serve the ministry of the whole people of God.

We are a priesthood of believers through the grace of Jesus Christ. We can go to God in prayer for ourselves or others and we can tell of God’s love to friends, family even strangers. But most important as a priest of Jesus Christ, we can demonstrate his love in everything we do and say. Amen.

Resources;
Pentecost 15. Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia. See: http://hwallace.unitingchurch.org.au/WebOTcomments/OrdinaryC/Pent15Psalm139.html

http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=5/22/2011 Daniel G. Deffenbaugh, Professor of Religion, Hastings College, Hastings, NE references John H. Elliott
www.staugpres.org/Portals/1399/CPM/Candidates/ESSENTIAL%20TENETS-use%20these.pdf
www.staugpres.org/Portals/1399/CPM/Candidates/ESSENTIAL%20TENETS-use%20these.pdf
See: http://oga.pcusa.org/formofgovernment/fog101.ppt#264,9,Priesthood of all believers

Sermon July 10, 2011

Thoughtful Leadership

Acts 15:1-11 and Selected Readings from the New Form of Government

July 1, 2011 ~ Preached by Linda Jo Peters

Three part Sermon series on Being Presbyterian

Unity Presbyterian Church ~ Terre Haute, Indiana

INTRODUCTION TO READINGS
Acts 15:1-11
Is the church about innovation or maintaining dogma? One writer points out that
“…the church itself promises the world an all-embracing innovation: the vision that the entire creation will finally become new, in communion with God.” That is a pretty big innovation. Our reading today comes from just such a challenge to believers. Is the dogma of circumcision more important than the innovation of welcoming all people to Christ? Today when Rosetta Haynes will be leading a discussion of her book, Radical Spiritual Motherhood, where five African American women during a time of intolerance to women especially women of color’s leadership; these woman were called by God and often had to challenge the dogma of the church as Paul and Barnabas do in this reading.

Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders. 3So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the believers. 4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. 5But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.”

6The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter. 7After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. 8And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; 9and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. 10Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?

Today July 10, 2011 the new Form of Government (FOG) takes effect. The 219th General Assembly and a majority of the presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have approved amending the Book of Order to include the this New Form of Government.

Trinity Presbytery, in western South Carolina, voted June 7 to approve FOG, making it the 87th and last necessary vote for passage. It seems a good time to reflect on this new form but also what it means to be Presbyterian.

F-1.02 JESUS CHRIST IS HEAD OF THE CHURCH
F-1.0201 The Authority of Christ
Almighty God, who raised Jesus Christ from the dead and set him above all rule and authority, has given to him all power in heaven and on earth, not only in this age but also in the age to come. God has put all things under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and has made Christ Head of the Church, which is his body. The Church’s life and mission are a joyful participation in Christ’s ongoing life and work.

F-3.0202 Governed by Presbyters
This church shall be governed by presbyters, that is, ruling elders and teaching elders. Ruling elders are so named not because they “lord it over” the congregation (Matt. 20:25), but because they are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life. Teaching elders shall be committed in all their work to equipping the people of God for their ministry and witness.

F-3.0203 Gathered in Councils
These presbyters shall come together in councils in regular gradation. These councils are sessions, presbyteries, synods, and the General Assembly. All councils of the church are united by the nature of the church and share with one another responsibilities, rights, and powers as provided in this Constitution. The councils are distinct, but have such mutual relations that the act of one of them is the act of the whole church performed by it through the appropriate council. The larger part of the church, or a representation thereof, shall govern the smaller.

F-3.0204 Seek and Represent the Will of Christ
Presbyters are not simply to reflect the will of the people, but rather to seek together to find and represent the will of Christ.

F-3.0205 Decision by Majority Vote
Decisions shall be reached in councils by vote, following opportunity for discussion and discernment, and a majority shall govern.

F-3.0206 Review and Control
A higher council shall have the right of review and control over a lower one and shall have power to determine matters of controversy upon reference, complaint, or appeal.

F-3.0207 Ordination by Council
Presbyters (ruling elders and teaching elders) and deacons are ordained only by the authority of a council.

F-3.0208 Shared Power, Exercised Jointly
Ecclesiastical jurisdiction is a shared power, to be exercised jointly by presbyters gathered in councils.

Sermon:
We are a deliberate lot, we Presbyterians. We like to take our time and think things through. Prayer, discussion, even heated debate is the accepted process for change with in our denomination. Over all of our own opinions and beliefs there is the guiding principle that Jesus is Lord of the Church.

One of the speakers at the Big Tent Event I attended last week was Mark Labberton who said:

He met a man in his church’s neighborhood who had attended numerous churches in the area. He was tattooed along his neck and face. He said “I have been to churches that talk a lot about Jesus and not much about the world and I have been to churches that talk a lot about the world and not much about Jesus. Your church seems to talk about Jesus and the world, but I am not looking for a church where I can meet people like me, I want to meet people like Jesus. Do you have people like Jesus in your church?”

Leadership in the Presbyterian Church is about being like Jesus. Such leadership uses a thoughtful process of discernment/decision-making; study and prayer; personal testimony like Peter’s that opens the mind to imagination and love. Once Jesus ascended into heaven the church needed leaders to help when there was conflict such as what Paul and Barnabas brought to the council in Jerusalem. What conflicts have you seen our or another church struggle to discern God’s will. Was there resolution? Did you grow from the experience or just get hurt?

It is the attitude that the winner takes all that hinders the church modeling the life of Jesus. Most of our polity has challenged this attitude through the years. But it is never a perfect representation because rules and laws will never replace what is lived out in people’s lives.

There is a hungry to meet people like Jesus. You can encourage this in your own life by developing a habit of not always winning. When our daughter Esther was little, she loved to race. We had a young teenager living next door. He was over six feet tall and every time they raced he let Esther win. He was being Jesus to his neighbor. If we could practice not being critical or corrective of everything others do, we will free ourselves to be more loving as Jesus our Lord is with us. Are we going to disagree with each other? Of course we will, but it will not end our relationship with one another. Besides doing everything in decency and in order, Presbyterians in their polity and their discipleship seek to live together even when they disagree. Picking up the marbles and going home, when life does not go our way is not Presbyterian. Presbyterians are here for the long haul with brothers and sisters in Christ that push all their buttons and then turn around and bring a basket of cookies by their house. Some Presbyterians are as easy to be with as Jesus was. Some Presbyterians are as hard to be with as Jesus was. Do we have people like Jesus here at Unity? You bet we do and we love them all. Amen.



Resources
"The Language of Church and World," Athanasios N. Papathanasiou, Ecumenical Review, 1999.
Here are the full descriptions of the church living under the authority of Christ found in the new form of government (FOG).

F-1.0202 Christ Calls and Equips the Church
Christ calls the Church into being, giving it all that is necessary for its mission in the world, for its sanctification, and for its service to God. Christ is present with the Church in both Spirit and Word. Christ alone rules, calls, teaches, and uses the Church as he wills.


F-1.0203 Christ Gives the Church Its Life
Christ gives to the Church its faith and life, its unity and mission, its order and discipline. Scripture teaches us of Christ’s will for the Church, which is to be obeyed. In the worship and service of God and the government of the church, matters are to be ordered according to the Word by reason and sound judgment, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.


F-1.0204 Christ Is the Church’s Hope
In affirming with the earliest Christians that Jesus is Lord, the Church confesses that he is its hope, and that the Church, as Christ’s body, is bound to his authority and thus free to live in the lively, joyous reality of the grace of God.


F-1.0205 Christ Is the Foundation of the Church
In Christ all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Christ God reconciles all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of the cross (Col. 1:19–20). In Christ’s name, therefore, the Church is sent out to bear witness to the good news of reconciliation with God, with others, and with all creation. In Christ the Church receives its truth and appeal, its holiness¸ and its unity.

Sermon: July 3, 2011

God Revealed in Jesus

Celebration of our Lord’s Supper

Scripture: Psalter # 252 of Psalm 145 and Matthew 11:25-30

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ July 3, 2011

Unity Presbyterian Church ~ Terre Haute, Indiana

Seventh Anniversary of Worshipping in Fellowship Center

Session has called a congregational meeting for next Sunday July 10 following worship for the election of officers. After the congregational meeting there will be a luncheon with author Rosetta Haynes please RSVP by Thursday of next week so we know how many to prepare for.
Matthew 11:25-30
We all want to know God, to keep a strong faith. But troubles come and crises make us fall and we lose sight of the High and Glorious King of Heaven in our pain and loss. Jesus says to know the father all you have to do is know the Son. This is a gentle message of hope given by the Good Shepherd of us all and he knows this message is not well received by those who think they have God all locked up in their interpretation of the law and modes of piety. Those who benefit from the suffering of others had better take a second look at themselves.

25At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Sermon
In 2002 Verity Jones former pastor of Central Christian wrote a commentary on this chapter.
It seemed so appropriate for today when we come to our Lord’s Table. Verity wrote:
"Table fellowship is at the center of the controversy in the reading from Matthew 11. The keepers of the laws, those who govern what one eats, with whom one eats and when one eats, have declared that Jesus and John the Baptist are in violation of the law. John is chastised for not eating with anyone. They say he must have a demon. Jesus is criticized for eating with everyone. They call him a glutton and a drunk."

She then tied it to our Fourth of July Celebrations:
"Today we no longer have laws governing our table fellowship, but our social and cultural expectations about food can be just as burdensome. For many people, (the holiday does) not conjure up images of happy backyard cook-outs, but rather a never-ending internal struggle about what to eat, when to eat and with whom to eat. American society is obsessed with food and body image, and the two are usually in battle. Many of us create our own laws around eating as we struggle to control our own consumption. Our young women are prone to anorexia, even as (we read reports) of a wealthy culture with more and more children who are overweight and under exercised."

2002 – Almost a decade ago and these are still issues of concern. She titled her article “Anxious Moments” We are still anxious people, worried about what to eat, when to eat and with whom to eat. But when we are in tuned with God as Jesus demonstrated, anxiety does not rule our lives.

In his Sermon on the Mount Jesus says: "… do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? (Matthew 6:25)
We are still a very anxious people who worry about money, body image, taxes, politics, relationships, jobs and health – to name a few. Then we have phobias – fear of things or events from spiders to heights
No wonder the passage we turn to for relief of our anxiety is Jesus’ sweet message of comfort when he says: Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

But we do ourselves a disservice when we pass over his message that to know God, to be in tune with our Creator we need to let Jesus reveal who God is. Too often we try to impose our image of God onto our understanding of who Jesus is. Like the Pharisees and Saccades of Jesus’ age we want rules or laws to govern if not our own lives then at least everyone else’s. Jesus reveals our God as fully in the moment with us: eating with sinners, welcoming strangers, tasting the rich variety of life with relish. This is the God who blesses our table fellowship with profound meaning. Ordinary break that is torn and born, recalls the ultimate sacrifice of God’s son for our redemption. A cup poured out like the life blood spilled out that we would have access to eternal life. Communion with all who are invited to this table reminds us that God gives us a choice to come to the table or stand off in anxiety or old hurts or anger. Jesus uses a simple meal to recall the sustaining grace of the Holy Spirit. Today you are invited to the table to let Jesus once again reveal the Father in the Son’s love. Amen.

Resources:
Anxious Moments by Verity Jones: This article appeared in The Christian Century, June 19-26, 2002 p. 20. Copyright by The Christian Century Foundation; used by permission. Current articles and subscription information can be found at http://www.christiancentury.org/. This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted and Winnie Brock.

Sermon: June 26, 2011

Welcoming the Stranger

Scripture: Psalm 13 read responsively and Matthew 10:37-42

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ June 26, 2011

Psalm 13 read responsively
How had it is to wait for an answer to prayer. In our microwave culture, it seems even longer. We can resonate with the Psalmist longing for a quick reply, but real transformation takes time and God is about new life and will never be rushed.

1How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
2How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3Consider and answer me, O Lord my God! Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
4and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”; my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
5But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Matthew 10:37-42
Matthew has put in juxtaposition Jesus being first in our lives with our welcoming the stranger.
Jesus has to be first even over those we the love the most. He sets the priorities in our lives so we can make the hard choices to be a forgiving and welcoming people.

37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 40“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

Sermon
On the cover of the bulletin are two pictures of welcome. Every year hundreds of desperate migrants and asylum-seekers arrive in Malta, a tiny island nation of 400,000 inhabitants, after making the perilous boat trip across the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa. They have fled poverty, persecution or war. To help Malta with the overwhelming number in 2009 France accepted 96 people. French Immigration Minister Eric Besson greeted the newcomers who arrived to a red carpet welcome:

"I wish you all the best in France. I wish you peace and happiness in your new life, your future starts here,"

The other image is of a far more different welcome. Tens of thousands of people have fled protests and the resulting crackdowns as the pro-democracy movement sweeps North Africa and the Middle East. Human rights groups have urged authorities to process the refugees fairly, but tensions have surfaced… boats are being turned away from many European ports. The picture is of a boat being turned away from Sicily but it had first been turned away from Malta.

What would cause this drastic a change in just two years? Part is the numbers have risen greatly in their area. In fact according to the United Nations, that defines a refugee is a person who flees their home country due to a "well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership… There are an estimated 11-12 million refugees in the world today. This number does not include the millions of refugees who must leave their home and country because of environmental change such as floods and earthquakes.

So numbers can be the reason for turning people away and not welcoming the stranger, but the excuse for this particular rejection of refugees that was given by the authorities was they could not know if there were terrorists aboard. So fear can also be a reason we do not welcome the stranger.

In the helping ministries there is another reason we do not welcome the stranger, it is called “compassion fatigue.” I believe even whole communities and nations can experience compassion fatigue. Caring too much can hurt. When caregivers focus on others without practicing self-care, destructive behaviors can surface. Apathy, isolation, bottled up emotions and substance abuse head a long list of symptoms associated with the secondary traumatic stress disorder now labeled: Compassion Fatigue. This past week at our clergy breakfast, Gary Scroggins reported on his journey to Joplin, Missouri. He said, Pastors Dave Burgess, of First Presbyterian and Rodney Peters of Bethany were glad for the pastoral care for their parishioners as well as themselves. Rev. Burgess has had “tag team” of associates coming to help visit people in their new locations, praying with them and just listen to their stories. Something as simple as their church directory is way out of date with over twenty members are displaced. As you can imagine the whole community is weary, but they are not giving up.

How can we continue to welcome the stranger, when we are bone weary with compassion fatigue?

The good news is there is a source of strength that never fails. That source is given to us by setting our sites on Jesus Christ. Put Jesus first and you will know when to welcome the stranger in spite of numbers, fear and fatigue. Resources of energy and help that you could never imagine will come. When we put Jesus first in our lives, even before those we love, our priorities are clear. Putting Jesus first means we come to rely on his strength when we are weary, afraid or overwhelmed. I don’t have all the answers to meet the needs of all strangers, but Jesus does. Where do I get those answer and resources? – The church! The church is one place were Jesus comes first all the time -- well at least we try to put Jesus first all the time. I am more amazed at what the body of Jesus does accomplish rather than become discouraged by our failures. Gary said he was invited to a planning meeting for all the various helping agencies in Joplin. There were Mormons in their yellow t-shirts, the green (teal) of the UCC, and the blue of Presbyterians plus Red Cross and Salvation Army. The church is helping still in New Orleans. Sullivan Church went on a mission trip this week to Calvin Center New Global Village a church camp in Georgia. First Presbyterian of Pampa, TX is on its way to Joplin.

Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” So when we welcome the stranger in the name of Jesus we are welcoming God. Amen.

Resources
See: www.unhcr.org/4a574d906.html UN Refugee Agency news release from July 10, 2009

No welcome for refugees as Italy turns boat away By Michael Day in Milan Wednesday, March 16, 2011
http://geography.about.com/od/globalproblemsandissues/a/refugees.htm
http://www.compassionfatigue.org/

Sermon June 19, 2011

Three in One

Scripture Psalm 8 read responsively and Matthew 28:16-20

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ June 19, 2022

Trinity Sunday – Celebrating the gifts of Men – Father’s Day

Introduction to Scripture
Psalm 8 read responsively

Before the majesty of God, we human beings are of little significance in the grand scheme of the universe, yet God has destined that humanity be given a special responsibility for creation and a means to communicate with God in prayer. Even more we are assured that we are heard and will be answered. Psalm 8 gives voice to what a glorious and blessed gift God’s love for us is!

O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
2Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger.
3When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established;
4what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?
5Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.

Matthew 28:16-20
Besides today being Father’s Day it is also the day the church has set aside to celebrate the triune nature of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Here in the Great Commission, Jesus sends his disciples out with the authority to baptize in the name of Three in One.

16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Sermon
Why even talk about the doctrine of a triune God? I get that I am a daughter, wife and mother, so I can know God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But Daniel T. Benedict, a United Methodist Pastor wrote in his commentary on this passage:

Our congregations are starving, not for doctrinal correctness, but for life in communion with the triune God. Our churches need the subversive presence of the triune God who defeats and break the chains of the strong enslaving the weak. The whole people of God are yearning to be encountered by the God who gives up the idea of God (Philippians 2:5-11) and becomes incarnate in the demands and struggles of daily life. We long for this God.

Inclusive language may rub many people as wrong, but I see that it has given us access to the nature of God with these beautiful images as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. This is the God I hunger for:

The One who is creative in the most amazing ways.
The One who redeems my worse nightmares and makes life worth living.
The One sustains me through the mundane to the sublime.

I also need:
The One who is the Father. Abba, Daddy, who loves me as a child.
The One who is the Son. Brother, Friend, who made the ultimate sacrificed for me.
The One who is the Holy Spirit. Teacher, Guided, who inspires.

Trinity Sunday celebrates the oneness of God and the various ways that God reaches out to express divine love. It celebrates our call to service in God’s subversive plan for changing humanity from sinners without hope, to the redeemed who live and breathe hope into everything they do and see. Now that is worth celebrating! Amen.

Resources
Adapted from Joan Stott, prayers and meditations based on lectionary Psalms, 2011. see: http://www.wesleychurchgeelong.net/w_resources/pentecost1a_2011.htm