A Moment of Grief and Remembrance

Rev. Harriette Cross First United Methodist Church of Wilmington All Saint’s Day November 7, 2021 John 11:32-44 Year B Opening Prayer Welcome Opening Prayer Healing God, we come to you today acknowledging that this has been a painful year. A year in which so much was lost. A year of grief in which we, too, may have cried out the same words of Jesus and the psalmist of: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And yet, we also acknowledge, Almighty God, that in our crying out, we are still calling out for you: to save us, to heal us, to provide a balm for our broken and wounded hearts. Today we come to you for comfort and healing as we boldly proclaim together the promise of the resurrection in Jesus Christ our Lord. Comfort us in our grief and remind us that your communion table stretches from the church altar to the communion of saints. Open our hearts and our lips to speak once more of your hope that always exist, always perseveres, and always conquers darkness even on our hardest of days. Remind us of the gift of the body of Christ, as we mourn together corporately in this place and across the conference. Heal us Lord, so that we may be your healing hands to the world. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. - Written by Director of Clergy Excellence, Rev. Jessie Colwell Stewardship Moment Moment for Stewardship (This would be a great Sunday to tell of the generosity of one of the “saints” no longer living but whose influence continues to be felt in the congregation. Consider asking one of your long-time members to tell the story of someone s/he remembers from years past who modeled generosity) or, tell this: Gretchen, a life-long member of the congregation, never had more money than what she needed for basics. After raising 10 children, experiencing the death of her beloved husband, and working in the high school cafeteria until she was 70, Gretchen yearned to have something big to give to her church. Quietly, Gretchen took on the weekly task of preparing communion. Each Saturday, she would let herself into the building and lovingly prepare 10 trays of cups and 10 plates of what she called “the crackers”. Then, after the hour-long process, she would go to the sanctuary for a time of prayer. Following that morning routine, Gretchen would return home to put her “first fruits” offering in an envelope, carefully set-aside from the money she earned by selling to anyone who came to purchase fresh eggs. This pattern continued for nearly fifteen years, until Gretchen was no longer able to drive, stand for an hour, or keep her chickens. Only a few months after that, Gretchen’s earthly life came to an end. At her funeral, the whole congregation took communion, remembering Gretchen’s faithful offering of her time, talent and treasure. What will this congregation remember of you and your faithful offering? Prayer of Thanksgiving We give you thanks, O God, for these gifts provided by living saints, and for gifts which have come from all the saints who ever worshiped you, from brush arbors or cathedrals, weathered wooden churches or crumbling cement meeting houses. We give you thanks, O God, for hands lifted in praise: manicured hands and hands stained with grease or soil, strong hands and those gnarled with age holy hands used as wave offerings across the land. We thank you, God, for hardworking saints; whether hard-hatted or steel-booted, head ragged or aproned, blue-collared or three-piece-suited. These gifts and all our lives are leaving their mark on the earth for you, for us, for our children yet to come. Thank you, God, for the sacrifices made by those who have gone before us, and for all who are sacrificing to offer you these gifts of finances, and gifts of time and talents. Bless these gifts, bless each giver, and bless our memories of your gone-before-us saints, AMEN Adapted from: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/a-prayer-meditation-for-all-saints-day Scripture John 11:32-44 Common English Bible 32 When Mary arrived where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her crying and the Jews who had come with her crying also, he was deeply disturbed and troubled. 34 He asked, “Where have you laid him?” They replied, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus began to cry. 36 The Jews said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “He healed the eyes of the man born blind. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?” Jesus at Lazarus’ tomb 38 Jesus was deeply disturbed again when he came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone covered the entrance. 39 Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said, “Lord, the smell will be awful! He’s been dead four days.” 40 Jesus replied, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see God’s glory?” 41 So they removed the stone. Jesus looked up and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 I know you always hear me. I say this for the benefit of the crowd standing here so that they will believe that you sent me.” 43 Having said this, Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his feet bound and his hands tied, and his face covered with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” Sermon A Moment of Grief and Remembrance The five stages of grief are denial, numbness and shock, then bargaining, then depression, then anger, and finally acceptance. Whenever there is the loss of deep love, we experience grief. All of us go through these stages of grief Howver, the pathway through that grief is different for each of us. Sometimes the experience we have with the loss of each loved one is different, and each stage of grief is different. Sometimes we go through the stages in order, sometimes the stages may happen all at once, sometimes we may spend a short time in one stage and forever in another, sometimes are all over the place, sometimes we experience them in our own order, sometimes you may think that you are over one stage, only to discover that it is back again. Grief if a part of all of our lives. However you experience these stages it is okay. Whereever you may be right now, it is okay, and wherever you are – you are right where you need to be. We want to honor those who have joined us today – in the pews and in spirit. But I think we can all say that this has been a long year for us all. We are grieving for those before us, but we are also grieving our life, our wellbeing, our sense of normalcy. Sometimes it is easy to point out these stages of grief in ourselves and others. But our scripture teaches us that Jesus grieved also. All of John 11 shows us that. Jesus is with his disciples taking the scenic route to Jerusalem – he wants to meet new people. Sometime on his journey – he just feels in his spirit that his friend Lazurus has died. Rather then rushing to comfort the family, Jesus just waits for two days. In some ways that could be the first stage of grief – denial. Then bargaining – he tells the disciples that he has to go to Bethany, even though he knows it may cost him his life. in the depression stage Mary cries out to him, Jesus gets angry at the world, and eventually he not only heals Lazurus, but continues his mission. Scripture tells us that Jesus got so angry that he wept. Perhaps he was angry at the whole concept of death and its affects on his friend and his family, perhaps he is mad because of his own hesitation to come to help his friends. Perhaps he is mad at the world for not understanding God, we don’t know that full extent of his anger – but we do know that Jesus is the only messiah who feels pain and cries about it. What is the point of a savior who cries? Remembering the Saints For those who are with us virtually, you are welcome to have a candle on hand to light in remembrance of all those named and that you hold in your heart. Intro to the Candle Lighting and Naming of the Saints God of the Saints (does not need to be printed) We give you thanks, O God, for every saint who ever worshiped you Whether in brush arbors or cathedrals, Weathered wooden churches or crumbling cement meeting houses Where your name was lifted and adored, Where your scriptures were studied, your people served. We give you thanks, O God, for centuries of hands in service: hands groomed, hands stained with grease or soil, Young hands, hands marked with age Holy hands of every shade raised in praise, Serving hands that cooked, hammered, and held. We give you thanks, O God, for hardworking saints; Whether hard-hatted or steel-booted, Head ragged or aproned, Blue-collared or three-piece-suited They ministered on the earth for you, for us, for our children to come. We give your thanks, O God, for saints in a season of pandemic Family and friends whose love was taken from us too soon, Caregivers of every kind who put our safety before theirs, Employers and landlords who gave us steady wages and roofs over our heads, Cooks and drivers that kept us fed and stocked. Liturgy for All Saints Day 2021 In gratitude for the gifts of these saints, we take a moment to name them before you, and the body of Christ, claiming their lives as a gift to the church: List the names of the people we are lighting candles for Today we also light a candle for all the saints who have been lost in this community and in years past that are on our hearts today. Finally, we light one more candle acknowledging all the saints who lost their lives to COVID-19. We acknowledge that over 20,000 people in Illinois have died due to this virus and we pray for their families. Now let us take a moment of silence in remembrance of those we love who are no longer physically with us. • A show comment from last time round the cycle: “I can never hear this account of Jesus' raising Lazarus without thinking of an impromptu Bible study I had with a bereaved mother in her hospital room. During my Clinical Pastoral Education unit (required for priests in training in the Episcopal Church), my assigned areas were the NICU (neo-natal ICU) and high risk pregnancy unit. I spent several days visiting and praying with this woman whose baby died in her arms just hours after being born. The last time I saw her, she asked, "Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead. Why won't he do the same for my little girl? I'm pretty mad about that--am I going to hell? If I do, will I ever see my baby?" After I swallowed a river of tears and assured her that she was not hell-bound for being mad at God, I located the Bible in her room (thank you, Gideonites!) and started reading John 11. I even took time to explain about the Book of Signs and why Jesus raised Lazarus in the first place (can you say pedantic pastoral care?). When we got to the part where "Jesus wept", the woman stopped me. "Do you think Jesus is weeping for my baby?" "Yes, he's holding her now and weeping for her and for you." A savior who knows pain, grief and suffering is just what we need. We need to know that we are not alone in our grief. The God who cries is with us. This story of Lazurus rising from the tomb is not about resurrection. Eventually Lazarus dies again. But through his own suffering and death, Jesus eventually overcomes that blockage for all of us – death has no control over us any more. All Saints day has a profound lesson in the cycle of life. I didn’t realize that Halloween and All Saints day are about a quarter of the way between Labor Day and Christmas. It marks the shift between darker days, the harvest season, colder temperatures. As a matter of fact, the symbol of All Saint Day is a shaft of wheat. Nature goes through its own grief process as we mourn the loss of the precious light that helps our life. Yet it is a reminder that Jesus us the light in the midst of darkness. Sometimes it seems like our grief will last forever and for many of us grief takes years and years to get through. But Jesus reminds us that resurrection opens the doors to something else. Leith Anderson, a pastor, shared an experience: As a boy, he grew up outside of New York City and was an avid fan of the old Brooklyn Dodgers. One day his father took him to a World Series game between the Dodgers and the Yankees. He was so excited, and he just knew the Dodgers would trounce the Yankees. Unfortunately, the Dodgers never got on base, and his excitement was shattered. Years later he was engrossed in a conversation with a man who was a walking sports almanac. Leith told him about the first major league game he attended and added, "It was such a disappointment. I was a Dodger fan' and the Dodgers never got on base." The man said, "You were There? You were at the game when Don Larsen pitched the first perfect game in all of World Series history'" Leith replied, ''Yeah, but uh, we lost." He then realized that he had been so caught up in his team's defeat that he missed out on the fact that he was a witness to a far greater page of history. (As told by Dean Register in the Minister's Manuel, 1995, 339) Let me ask you a question. What's going on down the street in our ball park? We may be so caught up in the beauty of our building, the eloquence of the sermon, and the friends who sit around us, that we miss out on a far greater page in the story of our Christianity. Look around you. What is it that is happening in our community? What is it that is happening down the street at your neighbor's house? What is happening down at the playground? What is your spouse trying to tell you? Is God pitching a perfect game in the world series of our neighborhood and we simply are missing out because we are so invested in our team? Brett Blair, www.Sermons.com The last thing that sticks out to me about this text is Mary’s response to Jesus when he returns to her house. She says Jesus has you been here my brother would not have died. How did she know her close friend was actually the messiah. How did she know that he had the answer to death? We will never know. She did not understand why her brother had to die – just as we may never understand why our loves ones die. But she believed – and that made all of the difference in the world. We honor our loved ones who also believed – and that made all of the difference in the world – they believed enough to follow Jesus to heaven and they now live forever. Jesus us the messiah who cries for us, but he cries also for the world, he cries for a better day, he cries for a cure, he cries for us to be faithful in our lives, and in our memories. It is days like this that remind us of love, lessons, hope, and peace that these people showed us. May we all be faithful saints of Jesus. Amen. Communion Song Come Ye Disconsolate UMH 510 Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook L: Let us go to be God’s saints this week. P: Not because we are more pious or special, but because we are called to care for those whom the world has tossed aside. L: Let us go now to serve with Jesus this week. P: Not because we are better than those around us, but because we are called to humble ourselves in serving those whom society has forgotten. L: Let us go now to journey with the Spirit this week. P: Not because we have the inside track, but because we have all lost our way, but hand in hand will be led to God’s heart. (c) Thom M. Shuman Community Time Benediction The pathway is open before you this day. It is a path of peace and hope, brought to others by God’s mighty love and wondrous blessings. Go in peace, bringing hope to all that you meet. Go, blessed ones, to serve God all your days. Go into the world as the living body of Christ, bringing eternal life to all who seek God’s face. Amen Children’s Time Additional Illustrations……. • “Jesus wept.” What does it mean to follow a messiah who wept? What does it mean to have a Savior who cries? The story is told of Frederick William IV of Prussia who once visited a school and quizzed the students. He held up a stone and asked the children: to what kingdom does this belong? They responded: mineral. He then, pointed to a flower and asked: to what kingdom does this belong? They answered: plant. He then pointed to a bird flying by outside the window and asked: to what Kingdom does that belong? They replied: animal. Then he asked: now, to what kingdom do I belong. He had raised a profound theological question. To what kingdom do we belong? On a literal sense, we are, off course, part and parcel of the animal kingdom. I belong to the same kingdom as my dog Ruff. He has many human traits. He can pout, he can get excited, he has a temper (as some of you who have visited the parsonage have discovered). But yet, Ruff does not understand time. He cannot grasp that there is a point beyond which he will not live. Only humans can grasp time. Ruff cannot tell right From wrong. It is not within him to share. His limited mind cannot set goals. All of those are human traits. The magnificent thing for humans is that it is within us to rise above purely animal desires and become a part of another kingdom----the Kingdom of God. Staff,www.Sermons.com Today, we celebrate “All Saints Day” –a day in the life of Christian tradition that honor all those in our Christian communities past, present, and future. For we are part of a huge body of Christ, and one that carries on through the generations by the passing on of the faith from one to another. All Saints is also tied to the idea of the harvest. As we come into our fall season, we celebrate the final harvest of the season. In the Jewish tradition, the final harvest occurs in the spring, as in the east, seasons are opposite. When we celebrate spring, they celebrate fall. When we celebrate fall, they are beginning their spring. So, the season most closely paired to our Harvest Celebration in the Jewish tradition is the season that we still celebrate now within our church year –the season of Pentecost, but most specifically tied to our harvest celebration is the Feast of Weeks –Shuvuot (the last harvest or the wheat harvest). In fact, the symbol for All Saints Day is the sheaf of wheat, symbolizing God’s final harvest, Jesus’ final victory. Think of it this way, when the harvest is here [hold two fingers up symbolizing the sheaf], God’s victory is near! [spread fingers into a V for Victory]. Can we do that together? “When the harvest is here, God’s victory is near!” [do the hand motions] All of you know the famous song by Knowles Shaw, “Bringing in the Sheaves,” right? Who has heard that song? We’re going to sing it today together. Well, that song was written as a response to psalm 126 –the idea that we spend our lives working in God’s vineyard as His loyal and faithful servants, sowing the seeds of kindness, and many times, shedding tears of sorrow, pain, and empathy for a broken world. Some of those tears may be our own for the things we’ve endured in our own lives. Some may be for others. But many times, life isn’t easy, especially when you’re devoted to God amid a world enmeshed in conflict. But we carry on, knowing that someday, the harvest will come, and we will be filled with the joy and love of God. Or as the psalmist says in Psalm 30: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” For Christians, we know the joy of Jesus’ sacrifice and victory in our own lives, and in the lives of people around us. We know the joy of God in our hearts even in the midst of sorrow. We may go out into the world in tears, but we come in from the field with joy! For God is Lord of the Harvest. You know sometimes as people of the Church, we think we need to be responsible for the harvest. We spend a lot of time worrying about results, and fretting when things don’t turn out like we hoped they would. We plan events, and few come. We try ministries that sometimes don’t work. We touch lives, and we fret, because those people aren’t in our pews. And sometimes, we start to feel down, because we feel that our efforts don’t matter. But we are not in charge of the Harvest crops. We are in charge of the sowing and the scattering of seed, and we are in charge of nurturing those seeds into fruition, and we are in charge of till and keeping the covenant of God and bearing the fruit of the gospel to everyone we can. We seek to work God’s mission fields, and to harvest (bring home to God) those of God’s faithful who respond to our good news. But we are not responsible for the turning of hearts and the growth of the crops. That’s God’s job. We are not the owners of the field; we are the workers in the field. And when we spread love, we never know how things might turn out. But spread we must. And sometimes, we gather people together, and we glean from the margins, and the edges, those who have been left behind, and we bring them to the Lord. Last week, we saw a film about John Wesley. Wesley wasn’t interested so much in just reaping the harvest he could easily see in the pews and churches of England. Wesley was interested in gleaning from the “leftovers” in the fields –those who weren’t welcome in the pews of the wealthy and well-brought up. He was interested in gathering from the margins among the downhearted, the poor, the disenchanted, and the depressed –those with addictions, and those with little money, those thrown into debtors prison, and those battling domestic issues, sickness, and pain. Wesley gleaned from the hopeless, and showed them the hope and the abundant mercy of God. And Jesus calls us to do the same. Today, we have heard the story of Ruth, a Moabite woman, born into another place and another faith, but whose heart found God. She followed her mother in law to Bethlehem, the land of fertile fields of barley and wheat –God’s House of Bread. Although destitute and hungry, Ruth found grace and hope in the fields of Boaz, where she was allowed to glean and gather from the corners of the field, left deliberately for the poor. Like David who would come after her, she is a servant before she is blessed with abundance. And through her humility and service, she is found to be worthy of becoming one of the “mothers” in the line of the Messiah Jesus. [You may wish to tell more of the story again here.] Ruth’s entry into God’s covenant is fixed when she meets and unites with Boaz on the threshing floor. Symbolizing the very wheat she has gleaned, Ruth is laid upon the threshing floor (the symbol of God’s place of judgment) and found by God to be pure of heart and sound of soul. In the uniting with Boaz, she is married to God’ covenant, and she reaps God’s abundant blessings. Ruth is rewarded for her love and loyalty by becoming Boaz’s wife. As a member of God’s faithful in Israel, Ruth will go on to become the great grandmother of King David. Jesus calls each and every one of us to be “gleaners” for God. Jesus tells us in Matthew 9: “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few; therefore pay earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Today, as we celebrate the community of all saints, we celebrate those who have worked the fields of God’s vineyards, who have walked with God through both wheat and weeds, and have passed on the faith to you, and to those like you. To whom will you pass on the stories of Jesus? Who will one day say that YOU were their inspiration, their saving grace, the one they’ve looked to when they learned to follow Jesus? You are the workers of God’s harvest. “The harvest is plentiful; the workers are few.” As you prepare for Holy Communion today, I asked that when you receive the Eucharist, you answer the question, “Will you go into the fields for Jesus?” And will your answer be? …. “Lord, send me.” Today, as we celebrate the Holy Communion with Jesus, as we take the bread, and the cup, we recognize God’s final victory, and look forward to that Final Victory when we enter into God’s kingdom and sit at His heavenly table, partaking of the abundant blessings of our Lord and Savior with all of the saints who have come before us. But who will come after you? Who will sit here a hundred years from now to celebrate our Lord? “The harvest is plentiful; the workers are few.” Shed your tears for the poor and disenchanted. Tell your stories to those who haven’t heard of Jesus. God out into your communities, into your fields, into your coffee shops and firehouses. And tell the stories of Jesus to those in the margins and on the edges of the world today. Gather us in, Lord, gather us in. ________________________________________ Based on the Story Lectionary Major Text The Story of Ruth: A Story of Faith from the Heart Minor Text The Story of Tamar: Loyalty is Not As It May Appear (Genesis 38) A Raining Down of Manna (Exodus 16 and Numbers 11) Elijah’s Healing/Raising of a Phoenician Woman’s Son and a Gift of Bread (1 Kings 17) The Story of Jezebel (of Phoenicia, Daughter of King of Tyre), Ahab, and Elijah (1 Kings 9: 16-21) Elisha’s Healing/Raising of a Shunammanite Woman’s Son (2 Kings 4) Psalm 19: The Lord’s Salvation Jesus Heals a Canaanite Woman’s Daughter in Tyre (Matthew 15:21-28) Jesus Heals a Syrophoenician Woman’s Daughter in Tyre (Mark 7:24-30) The Parable of the Great Dinner (Luke 14:15-24) Salvation is for All Who Believe with the Heart Reminds Paul (Letter to the Romans, Chapter 10) Optional OPTION TWO Lectionary The Raising Up of a New Prophet Like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15-22) Psalm 2: The Son of God Psalm 22: Song of Deliverance from Persecution and God’s Victory Psalm 110: The Priest of Melchizedek God Knows the Name of the Son (Proverbs 30:3-6) The Prophecy of Amos (8) Zechariah’s Oracle for Jerusalem (12) Jeremiah’s Prophecy of a New Covenant (31) Isaiah’s Suffering Servant (53) The Book of Hosea The Son of God Who Will Suffer (Hebrews 1 and 2) Jesus’ Prophecies of His Death and Resurrection (Matthew 16:21-23; 17:22-23; 20:17-19; 26:1-5; Mark 8:31-33; 9:3-32; 10:32-24; Luke 9:18-22; 9:44-45; 12:49-50; 18:31-34; John 7:12-24; 12:20-36; 13:31-14:7; 16:16) Jesus the Son of God (Acts of the Apostles 13) Christ’s Suffering (1 Peter 2) The Resurrection of the Son and the Promise of Resurrection for All (1 Corinthians 15) The Son of Man (Revelation 1) Image Exegesis: The Omer The “omer” or sheaf is an important metaphor in the life of the Jewish people. Most people were either shepherds or farmers, so agricultural symbols dominate the Hebrew scriptures. The story of Ruth is the story of one such agricultural community –at Beth Lehem (the House of Bread) –fertile hillsides from which the community was fed with rich harvests of wheat and barley and other grains, as well as grapes and wine. There are so many references to the idea of “workers in God’s fields or vineyards” both in the Hebrew scriptures and in the gospels, that they are more than one can mention easily. Jesus uses the metaphor copiously in his stories. From sowing seeds, to planting, to watering, to harvesting, and to talk of wheat and chaff, or wheat and weeds, we know that for Jesus too, God is the grand harvester, and the “owner” or “master” of the fields. The end of the harvest (or the last harvest) for the Jewish people is Shavuot (the wheat harvest). At Shavuot, the Book of Ruth is read, as a symbol of God’s great blessings upon not just the poor, but those whose hearts turn to God. God (and Jesus emphasizes this emphatically) does not care about genetics. God cares about the state of one’s heart, and where that heart is loyal. When one is loving and loyal to God, God bestows upon that person abundant blessings. Jesus spent his ministry turning the tables on the expectations in society. The poor and marginal would be first at the table (and we see that in Jesus’ table parable). The outsiders will be blessed (as we see in his address to the Syro-Phoenician woman). The last will be first! No better do we see this as in the story of Ruth –one of the “mothers” of the Messiah (as seen in Matthew’s genealogy). Looking at the symbol of grain in the spirit of Shavuot, Ruth is both gleaner and wheat. She symbolizes the servant of the field, but she also symbolizes the wheat laid upon the threshing floor, and chosen/redeemed by God. Her redemption comes in form of her wedding to Boaz, in which she becomes part of Israel’s royal heritage. Likewise, the symbols of crown (victory/kingship) and sheaf of wheat (love/salvation/bread/abundant blessing/victory of the final harvest) are the symbols of All Saints Day in the Christian tradition. For we also celebrate God’s harvest –especially harvest from the margins and the edges of our societies and our world. The story today then is a missional one. The metaphors are missional, as well as ministerial. We are called to participate in God’s mission field –we sow seed, but we also help in the harvest, to gather together those who are weary and heavy laden, so that Jesus may give them rest –and a place at His heavenly and abundant table. When we come to the great threshing floor of God –who will be gathered in? Will you be one of those who served well? ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., , by Lori Wagner

Christ the New Way to Hope, Faith and Love

November 14, 2021 Year B Hebrews 10:11-25 Opening Song Welcome Opening Prayer Holy One, there is no God like you. In praise and thanksgiving, we come before you ready to learn of your power, ready to follow your path for our lives. Through days of jubilation as well as dejection, help us realize your influence in the world. We ask simply for ears to hear, eyes to see, and minds to comprehend the blessings you bestow. Amen. Call to Worship Leader: This nation, under God, depends on each generation accepting the call to serve both God and country. People: Everywhere we look we are reminded of the commitment our veterans made in presenting their bodies as a living sacrifice. Leader: So today we honor them as we shout a resounding…. People: THANK YOU! Leader: THANK YOU! That we are free to come and to worship the One who presented His body as the ultimate living sacrifice for ALL. People: Come, let us worship! Stewardship Moment Do you shake your head, sometimes, when you read of the confusion and seeming slow-wittedness of Jesus’ disciples? It almost makes me laugh when Peter, James, John and Andrew (the first-to-be-called) want Jesus to give them private info about when the Temple would be destroyed. Were they hoping to avoid the place when destruction began? Or wondering if they could be the first to tweet the news, grabbing the rights to a “breaking news” story? Jesus doesn’t oblige. Rather, he suggests they beware! Don’t be led astray. We don’t get private info given to us, just because we’re followers of the Jesus Way (like the State Farm commercials of all the folks who believe they’ve been given special rates). Rather, our task is to stay aligned with Jesus — no matter what “birthpangs” we may observe around us. Despite the wars and rumors of war, despite the earthquakes and famines, our task is clear. Day by day we act out our faith. Week by week, we register our intention to follow Jesus with the gifts we bring. We deliberately give away some of what is “ours”, offering financial support along with our time and talents, to proclaim our desire to move the dial one more tick toward God’s Realm. What will you offer, today, as a sign you choose to follow Jesus? Offering Prayer (1 Samuel 1, Psalm 113, Hebrews 10, Mark 13) Today, O Lord, we offer you our sacrifice of time, energy, and love, knowing full well they are mere tokens of the awesome faith you inspire within us. Accept these gifts, that they may continue the good work in Christ — in our church, in our community, and in the world. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Scripture Hebrews 10:11-25 Common English Bible 11 Every priest stands every day serving and offering the same sacrifices over and over, sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right side of God. 13 Since then, he’s waiting until his enemies are made into a footstool for his feet, 14 because he perfected the people who are being made holy with one offering for all time. 15 The Holy Spirit affirms this when saying, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them. After these days, says the Lord, I will place my laws in their hearts and write them on their minds. 17 And I won’t remember their sins and their lawless behavior anymore.[a] 18 When there is forgiveness for these things, there is no longer an offering for sin. Second summary of the message 19 Brothers and sisters, we have confidence that we can enter the holy of holies by means of Jesus’ blood, 20 through a new and living way that he opened up for us through the curtain, which is his body, 21 and we have a great high priest over God’s house. 22 Therefore, let’s draw near with a genuine heart with the certainty that our faith gives us, since our hearts are sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies are washed with pure water. 23 Let’s hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, because the one who made the promises is reliable. 24 And let us consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds. 25 Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near. Sermon Christ the New Way to Hope, Faith and Love I had the strangest dream this morning. I was walking down the street this morning. I was with two of my clergy colleagues and we were walking down the street. And one of them got arrested for something and we were all put in jail. We were put in this plain white room with no furniture. The one who had been arrested started to debate whether he was a good man or a bad man. He didn’t know whether he had committed the crime or not. Some how I got the key to let all of us out. I was about to open the door, but before I opened the door I needed to know if he was going to attack me if he discovered he was a bad person. He got really upset and came after me, and I told him, you are not a good person, or a bad person – you are just a human being – we are a little bit of both, and not really either. And just as the other colleague had to hold him back from coming at me – my alarm went off and I woke up realizing that it was just a dream. I am not sure of what brought that dream on – was it the heartburn from eating Mcdonald’s just before going to bed, or the guilt from staying at the game too late and being too tired the write my sermon – I am not sure. But as I got going I realized that that was the point of my sermon – everything that I was going to preach about was right there in that story. If I right the outline of my sermon before I go to bed, my mind had a way of putting it all together. It is all there, but I guess I have to break it down for you for it to make any sense. You see this is the third and I hope final sermon on the book of Hebrews. There is one more chapter, but luckily we are coming to the new year. I love the book of Hebrews, but I didn’t think I could say anything else about Jesus being the high priest of heaven and offering us the highest level of salvation and access to God. But chapter 10 has a really good message – a message about perfection. When we are ordained, all United Methodist pastors are asked a set of questions which is in the book of discipline. One of the most important questions is are you going on to perfection. And of course the right answer to that question is yes. That is not a question of good and bad, right or wrong. It doesn’t mean that United Methodist Pastors are supposed to be perfect people. Actually the founder, John Wesley asked that question of all Christians. Are you going on to perfection? Hebrews 10 says that we are all made perfect through Jesus Christ. The reality is that we never get there in this lifetime. We are only made perfect when we get to heaven. Perfection is not about anything that we do, it is about what Christ does for us. Whereas most priest or preachers stand when they are preaching or praying – Christ sits at the right hand of God. Whereas most priest and preachers have to preach and pray every Sunday, christ only had to do one act of sacrifice and it made all of the difference in the world for anyone who believes in him. That is why Christ is the high priest. On this veteran’s day we thank our veteran’s for the sacrifice that they made for our freedom. But we also thank Christ today – because it was his sacrifice on the cross that opened the door for all of us to go on to perfection. If it wasn’t for that sacrifice – we would all be weighed down by our sins. I heard a saying this week that says that perfect people are not real and real people are not perfect. We all have a story to tell. And yet when Christ died on the cross – he asked for our forgiveness. And that is all that it took. We don’t get into heaven because we are perfect, we get into heaven because we are forgiven. There is an old story about a girl who was in a coma for a very long time. When she woke up, she told her parents that she had spent time with Jesus. So the preacher asked her if Jesus had a message for anyone in the village. She said that Jesus knew everyone present. He knew all about everyone and he knew everything that everyone had ever done. So they asked what he had said about them – he said he knew, but that he had forgotten everything. That is the definition of forgiveness – as humans we like to hang onto everything. We forgive, but we don’t forget. And yet in Christ forgiveness – our slate is wiped clean. According to Hebrews 10 – when God forgives us – we don’t have to continue to be sorry. Because in Christ, not only are our sins forgiven, but they are forgotten. We don’t have to hold onto to them in our spirit. When we come face to face with Christ in heaven, we stand in perfection. Not our perfection, but in Christ’s perfection. Perfection is our faith in the power of Christ, not in our actions. I think that first time that I went downtown Chicago, I would have been a child about 9 or 10. The one thing that sticks out about that trip was a man standing on the corner, preaching to people walking past telling them to give their lives to christ before it is too late. If you continue to live in your sins then you are going to hell. When I started going downtown by myself, he had moved across the street, but he was still giving the same message. I think the last time that I was downtown he was still there. I haven’t been downtown in a while, but I remember that he would stand in front of walgreens – preaching the good news of Christ forgiveness for a sinful world. I don’t think that he preaches anymore, but for over 45 years he was there telling people that they were going to go hell if they don’t give their lives to Christ. See that is the difference between a priest and a high priest. Rev. Samuel Chambers had to give the same message everyday over and over again for 45 years. Christ preached for three years, but when the people killed him for his message – that one act made a difference for eternity. Recently, I heard one of the best benedictions in the world – that summed up all of the sermons in the world. I don’t even think the lady was a Christian But as she ended her lesson – she told us to remember one thing – God created us to be free. Go out and live in that freedom. We are created to be free. Free in spirit. Unfortunately, as we go through life day to day – we forget that. We get caught up in relationships, we get caught up in situations, we get caught up in conditions, and life can get so heavy. Sometimes we even get to the point that we think that our problems are all that there is to life. We listen to preachers telling us everyday that Jesus is the answer – and we tune them out and think of their message as irrelevant. Hebrews 10 message for all of us is simple – have faith, hold fast to hope and care for one another in love. When John Wesley asks us if we are going on to perfection – perfection is a way of life, not a destination. We are made perfect when we choose to live in love. Amen. Veteran’s Prayer and Acknowledgement You, O God, are our God. You are with us in all the times of life to offer hope and light and comfort. We come to you now with thanks: thanks for our freedom; thanks for our peace; thanks for our prosperity and security. On this Veteran’s Day, we thank you, especially, for the women and men who gave of themselves in times of war to help to ensure the blessings that we enjoy. The names, the faces, the stories come to us, once again, and we honor them, their courage, their sacrifice, their willingness to put themselves in harm’s way for a better cause. May we never forget. We pray that wars and rumors of wars would cease, but if there is a need, let those of us of younger generations go forth as faithfully as did our ancestors that the cause of peace and justice may be defended and upheld. That freedom found in our county and the freedom found in and through Christ is always worth fighting for. With our Freedoms today we pray for the sick of our congregation and community. On this day, we lift up in prayer …. (here each should take the time to call out those you are praying for) Be with them and all of us offering healing and hope and strength to see beyond our problems to the glory of your Kingdom. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. who taught us to pray… Lord’s Prayer Great is Thy Faithfulness Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Go in peace, remembering a mother’s faith in God — a faith that provided her with comfort and strength in her time of need. May you pray unfailingly, grow steadily, and love constantly. Amen. Community Time Benediction Benediction (1 Samuel 1 & 2) May we leave this house of worship reconciled, redeemed and renewed by our time spent in the presence of God. May we leave this house of worship full of the hope our Savior provides. May the grace, hope, peace and love of the God the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer be with us now and always. Amen. Additional Illlustrations Obviously most of us are not now dwelling in a building called a prison, but there is more than one kind of prison. You may know of no one who is presently under legal arrest, but there is more than one kind of arrest. And when Jesus says in the gospel that the Spirit of the Lord has sent him "to proclaim release to the captives," I don’t think he was talking only about those who were in the Jerusalem jail. I think his words are meant for me and you too. His very life was intended to discharge people from the prisons of their own making - the prison of sin, the prison of illusion, the prison of despair. "A Lady Named Olive" is a modern parable written by Pat Ryan, and it is really the story of a jailbreak. A lady named Olive owned two shopping bags full of words. One bag was plain brown, very old, and filled with the kind of words that could reach out and connect her with other people. Words like share and care, grow and touch and listen and love and yes. Olive’s other shopping bag was white with a big shoe printed on the sides of it. This bag carried words to keep people away. Words like no and ignore and don't and mine and who cares. Olive carried both shopping bags everywhere with her. But she only used the connecting words on very special occasions like Christmas or somebody's birthday. The separating words, on the other hand, were used every single day. Olive used them well. She flung them about like darts whenever someone got too close. After a while people moved away without a word. One day as she was walking to the discount store, Olive’s plain brown shopping bag broke and spilled out all its words. Suddenly Olive was connected to everyone around. and it wasn't even Christmas.4 Olive had been arrested. Now Olive was free. And how about you? Are you under arrest? I happened to be leaving the small frame office building which also served as the police station, when I saw a lot of people running toward the office. Leading them was a man running from a woman holding a knife in her right hand as she chased him. A crowd was running alongside them. She chased the man around the building before the police came out and caught hold of her. They took her knife away and pushed her to the ground, where they started kicking her with their boots. She didn't try to defend herself. She just lay there and took it. I was at the road then, getting into my Suzuki jeep. When I saw the policemen start to kick her, I got out of the jeep. I flinched each time they landed a kick on her defenseless body. But I didn't do anything more. I was afraid. They were armed. I was an outsider. Whatever, I drove home feeling sick. Years later, as I reflect on that moment, I imagine the concentric circles of guilt for the evil I witnessed, with pain at the center. At the center, the woman and her husband. I have no idea what the man had done to his wife to make her so angry with him. I don't know who started it all, or when. I'm sure there was enough blame for everyone. The first circle, the police who broke their rules to kick her, and seemed to enjoy it. And the police who stood by. The next circle, the neighbors-become-spectators, some of them snickering. The expanding circles of sin and guilt included me, too, for not helping. And then the tribe and its culture, for allowing this type of thing. And other nations, for the tragic byproducts of colonial rule. The dark circles of guilt get thinner as they get farther out, maybe ... but in a way they come all the way to include you. Where were you? What were you doing to help her? Of course, the woman being brutalized by the police in Kenya was not the only thing in the world that went wrong that day, thirty years ago. Or since. The world is awash in sin and guilt. If you don't see it, it's because you are not looking. You cannot opt out. A youngster in Sunday School asked the pastor, "If Jesus died on Friday, why do we call it good?" It seems contrary to reason to call this day Good Friday, when congregations around the world remember Jesus' death with black and an empty chancel. Images like these recount the day: forsaken, scorn, thorns, despised, grief, sorrow, wounded, tears, darkness, and death. How can we use a word like good in the same breath? What good can come from Jesus' death on the cross on a day long ago on a hill called "the place of the skull"? We can pray with Soren Kierkegaard, that melancholy Dane who prayed his way through cross-marked Fridays: "Lord, hold not our sins up against us, but hold us up against our sins; so that the thought of you, when it wakens in us and every time it wakens, may remind us not of how much we have sinned, but of how much you have forgiven us; not how we went astray, but how you saved us" (paraphrase). Good Friday! It is a good day to die; it is a good day to live. Amen. CSS Publishing Company, THE VICTORY OF FAITH, by Mark J. Molldre

Something to Be Thankful for

Community Thanksgiving Service November 21, 2021 Matthew 6:25-33 Fresh out of business school, a young man answered a want ad for an accountant. Now he was being interviewed by a very nervous businessman who ran a small business that he had started himself. “I need someone with an accounting degree,” the businessman said. “But mainly, I’m looking for someone to do my worrying for me.” “Excuse me?” the accountant said. “I worry about a lot of things,” the business man said. “But I don’t want to have to worry about money. Your job will be to take all the money worries off my back.” “I see,” the accountant said. “And how much does the job pay?” “I’ll start you at eighty thousand,” said the businessman. “Eighty thousand dollars!” the accountant exclaimed. “How can such a small business afford a sum like that?” “That,” the businessman said, “is your first worry.” Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could pay somebody to do our worrying for us? It is amazing how many things we can find to stress us out--even at Thanksgiving. Or maybe--for those of you responsible for cooking for a large family or those who are entertaining relatives--we find ways to stress out especially at Thanksgiving. I think that we can all agree that there is a lot for us to worry about this year, we still have not overcome the COVID pandemic, people are still getting very sick every day, it has wreaked havoc on our lives, it affects our families, it affects our jobs, it still affects our abilities to even gather for basic reasons, and as winter and Christmas is approaching stores do not have things in stock, business and other organizations are not able to stay open. And as we look forward into the future – there seems to be no end in sight, each season brings with it a new set of challenges. Like I said there is a lot for us to worry about. But I also want to remind you that Thanksgiving did not develop as a time of celebration. It was a time when the early settlers were digging more graves than huts to live in. And in the midst of their suffering, that made an intentional decision that they needed to come together, to gather in unity with neighbors and friends. As the harvest started to come in they realized that they had to acknowledge the presence of God and to take account of what they had in life. The renown teacher and author Dr. David McLennon tells a story of his very first job in a small town general store. This was the day before mails and supermarket chains at least it was in his community. At age thirteen he was hired as a handy boy. He would sweep the flour, bag items for customers, put up stock. On one particular Saturday, he recalled, he heard the owner say to one of the clerks "It's that time of the year again, it's time to take inventory." Dr. McLennon wrote that this was a word that had not yet entered into his vocabulary. When an opportune moment arrived, he went up to the kindly older man and asked, Sir, what is an inventory? Patiently the owner explained that it was a time when you made a list of everything that you had from groceries on the shelves to wrapping paper and string. Still somewhat puzzled, the young McLennon then asked, Why? "Well," responded the owner, "it's easy to forget exactly how much you have each year. Every now and then you have to take an inventory just to see what all you have." That little story, to me, pretty well sums up what Thanksgiving is all about. It is a time when each of us needs to ask ourselves the question: Have I taken inventory of my life lately? Have I made an effort to count all the things that I do have in life instead of complaining about the things that I don't have. It is a good exercise especially when we are of a mind to brood or whine in self pity. Have you taken inventory lately? When we take time to think back on our lives, when we think about the last 18 months. I am sure all of us have had some challenges, some horrible things to happen. But when we look back, I am sure that somewhere in the midst of our struggle, we have also seen God. There have been some blessings, some unexpected grace, some new lessons, some new visions. When we take account of the times in our lives – it always helps us to see God more clearly. Thanksgiving is a time for us to count our blessings. We were not able to gather for community Thanksgiving service last year. That is why I think this service is more important than ever this year. For us to gather as the community of Christ and to take account of what God has done in our churches and in our community. And then again, when we think of our churches – there are things that we still have to worry about. The church has changed over the last 18 months – if it wasn’t in the midst of change way before then.\ There is an old Irish poem by an unknown author that goes like this: “Why worry? In life there are only two things to worry about: Whether you are well, or whether you are sick. Now if you are well, you have nothing to worry about. And if you are sick, you only have two things to worry about: whether you get better, or whether you die. If you get better, you have nothing to worry about. And if you die, you only have two things to worry about: whether you go to heaven, or whether you go to hell. Now, if you go to heaven, you have nothing to worry about. And if you go to hell, you’ll be too busy shaking hands with your friends that you won’t have time to worry. So why worry?” But our scripture – Matthew 6 reminds us that the antidote to worry is gratfuleness. And you cant have gratefulness with the presence of God. What do atheist and those who don’t believe in God do when they are grateful and they have no one to thank. One family that didn’t go to church gathered together and when it came time to eat – they thanked Paine and Webber for the meal. Their employer may have provided the money for the meal – but they did not truly provide everything that went into preparing that meal. When you look to God, you are never without blessing. Not only is being grateful the antidote to worrying, it also keeps the blessing flowing in our lives. A recent study found that people who jot down what they are thankful for each week feel more optimistic about their lives, exercise more, and even have fewer visits to the doctor than people who write down things that annoy them or even neutral events. There is something about the spirit of gratitude that is healing to the body and the soul. When University of Connecticut psychologist Glenn Affleck interviewed 287 people recovering from a heart attack, he discovered that people who found some positive benefit from their attack were less likely to suffer another attack within eight years. He recommends that each day we write down one or more things we are grateful for, and read the journal once a week. (1) You may have heard of the three sisters in planting. Native Americans would plant corn, beans and squash together. The three crops would support one another and keep important nurtients in the soil. Well there are three sisters in faith as well. I’m no master gardener, but in my small-scale gardening, I’ve learned about companion planting. Some flowers, vegetables, and herbs grow better together. They don’t just tolerate one another; they encourage one another’s health and fruitfulness. But some plants can’t grow together. One steals nutrients, blocks the sun, or entices pests that hinder the growth of other plants. The same is true in our life. Faith, humility, and thankfulness are companion practices, supporting and sustaining one another. As one increases, so do the others. But unbelief and boasting choke out the tiniest seedlings of thankfulness. Whereas humility and gratitude feed off each other, gratitude and pride cannot coexist in proximity. Either we’ll view ourselves as the source of good things and take the credit, or we’ll acknowledge God behind everything we have and redirect the glory to Him. As our lives center on God, gratitude grows. When self-focus sprouts and spreads, gratefulness withers.4 —Dustin Crowe, The Grumbler’s Guide to Giving Thanks: Reclaiming the Gifts of a Lost Spiritual Discipline This year as we gather together tonight in faith – may this moment lead to beautiful things in the coming days in our churches, in the community because of us, and in our own lives. Covid has changed us, COVID has changed the way we do church. Many people who were worshipping with us are not in the pews tonight or any Sunday. There are more young people facing the struggles of growing up with no knowledge of faith. People who we saw last year are disillusioned with the church, but they are still present in the community. We have to remember God and we have to live out our faith in tough times, so that the doors can be open and others feel safe to return to God and bring others with them. In our community of 5000 1250 of those people have no church home and may not know the power of putting God first in their lives. Our work is cut out for us to make sure that next thanksgiving they know the power of thanking God for all that we have. But it start right here, right now with our own faith. With our ability to be grateful and to know that God is present when we live life with a grtful heart and take inventory of what God has given us. An estimated 1.5 million people are living today after bouts with breast cancer. Every time I forget to feel grateful to be among them, I hear the voice of an eight-year-old named Christina, who had cancer of the nervous system. When asked what she wanted for her birthday, she thought long and hard and finally said, “I don’t know. I have two sticker books and a Cabbage Patch doll. I have everything!” The kid is right.5 —Erma Bombeck, quoted in 10,000 Sermon Illustrations I long to be like that girl and know that as long as I have God – I have everything. Did you know that humans are the only cretrures capable of worrying. We are the only creatures capable of praise. Said the Robin to the Sparrow: “There is one thing I would really like to know, Why these anxious human beings Rush about and worry so.” Said the Sparrow to the Robin: “Friend, I think that it must be That they have no heavenly Father Such as cares for you and me.” Matthew 6 where our scripture comes from is the sermon on the mount. Those who are listening are used to struggle. They worked tirelessly, but there was never enough. Life was a challenge, if they survived today – that was no guarantee about tomorrow. And yet Jesus stands before them and tells them not to worry. If God takes care of the Robin and the Sparrow, then surely God will take care of us. They believed them. Do we ? There is an old Irish poem by an unknown author that goes like this: “Why worry? In life there are only two things to worry about: Whether you are well, or whether you are sick. Now if you are well, you have nothing to worry about. And if you are sick, you only have two things to worry about: whether you get better, or whether you die. If you get better, you have nothing to worry about. And if you die, you only have two things to worry about: whether you go to heaven, or whether you go to hell. Now, if you go to heaven, you have nothing to worry about. And if you go to hell, you’ll be too busy shaking hands with your friends that you won’t have time to worry. So why worry?” Don’t worry – be holy. Practice your faith, find gratitude in every day. Look for God in every circumstance This thanksgiving I wish you healing, restoration and joy. But don’t stop there – find God in everyday afterwards. Here are 12 suggestions to building thanksgiving into your everyday life. – write thank you notes, make a monthly call to someone, surprise your spouse and other family members with a second thanksgiving, just because, spend a day a week in prayer, write notes to those who have really influenced you, at work – sponsor a thank you break, wherevery one is free to take a break and be grateful, help neighbors in need, start a journal, go to church, be active in your faith and the life of the church. As we are intentional about our faith, may we encourage others to do the same and to come back to church with us. And one day we will all be one in the kingdom of God. Scottish minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something for which to be grateful. One Sunday morning the weather was so gloomy that one church member thought to himself, "Certainly the preacher won't think of anything for which to thank the Lord on a wretched day like this." Much to his surprise, however, Whyte began by praying, "We thank Thee, O God, that it is not always like this." It is not always going to be like this. One day in Christ it will be so much better. Peace. Sermon Opener - In All Things Be Thankful - Ephesians 5:20 Back during the dark days of 1929, a group of ministers in the Northeast, all graduates of the Boston School of Theology, gathered to discuss how they should conduct their Thanksgiving Sunday services. Things were about as bad as they could get, with no sign of relief. The bread lines were depressingly long, the stock market had plummeted, and the term Great Depression seemed an apt description for the mood of the country. The ministers thought they should only lightly touch upon the subject of Thanksgiving in deference to the human misery all about them. After all, what was there was to be thankful for? But it was Dr. William L. Stiger, pastor of a large congregation in the city that rallied the group. This was not the time, he suggested, to give mere passing mention to Thanksgiving, just the opposite. This was the time for the nation to get matters in perspective and thank God for blessings always present, but perhaps suppressed due to intense hardship. I suggest to you the ministers struck upon something. The most intense moments of thankfulness are not found in times of plenty, but when difficulties abound. Think of the Pilgrims that first Thanksgiving. Half their number dead, men without a country, but still there was thanksgiving to God. Their gratitude was not for something but in something. It was that same sense of gratitude that lead Abraham Lincoln to formally establish the first Thanksgiving Day in the midst of national civil war, when the butcher's list of casualties seemed to have no end and the very nation struggled for survival. Perhaps in your own life, right now, there is intense hardship. You are experiencing your own personal Great Depression. Why should you be thankful this day? May I suggest three things? 1. We must learn to be thankful or we become bitter. 2. We must learn to be thankful or we will become discouraged. 3. We must learn to be thankful or we will grow arrogant and self-satisfied. How to Be a Pilgrim The Pilgrims had the courage to act on their commitments, no matter what. Do we? Sociologist Robert Bellah, author of Habits of the Heart, is impressed by the power of religion. He once said, "We should not underestimate the significance of the small group of people who have a new vision of a just and gentle world. The quality of a culture may be changed when two percent of its people have a new vision (and act on it)." Christians make up far more than two percent of our town, far more than two percent of Massachusetts, far more than two percent of Americans. So, why don’t we have a greater effect: on issues of the environment, on justice for the needy, on the quality of life on Cape Cod? Could it be we need more courage to act on our commitments? To be a Pilgrim means to stand up for what you believe, no matter what. To be a Pilgrim also means sharing what you have, and turning thanks into giving. The Pilgrim colonists willingly shared all they had. During their first three years, all property was held in common. At one point, they were down to five kernels of corn per day for food. Still, they divided the corn kernels up equally. And, the original group of fifty that survived the first winter shared their limited food with the sixty newcomers who arrived in the spring. One of their finest moments came in 1623, at the first real Thanksgiving. The small colony hosted over ninety Native American braves for three days. There was eating and drinking, wrestling, footraces, and gun and arrow-shooting competitions. It was the Pilgrims’ way of saying "Thank you" to God, and to the Native Americans who had helped them survive. To be a Pilgrim means sharing and turning thanks into giving. How thankful and giving are we? Alex A. Gondola, Jr., Holidays Are Holy Days: Sermons for Special Sundays, CSS Publishing Company With Heart and Hand and Voices Martin Rinkert was a minister in the little town of Eilenburg in Germany some 350 years ago. He was the son of a poor coppersmith, but somehow, he managed to work his way through an education. Finally, in the year 1617, he was offered the post of Archdeacon in his hometown parish. A year later, what has come to be known as the Thirty-Years-War broke out. His town was caught right in the middle. In 1637, the massive plague that swept across the continent hit Eilenburg... people died at the rate of fifty a day and the man called upon to bury most of them was Martin Rinkert. In all, over 8,000 people died, including Martin's own wife. His labors finally came to an end about 11 years later, just one year after the conclusion of the war. His ministry spanned 32 years, all but the first and the last overwhelmed by the great conflict that engulfed his town. Tough circumstances in which to be thankful. But he managed. And he wrote these words: Now thank we all our God With heart and hands and voices; Who wondrous things hath done, In whom his world rejoices. It takes a magnificent spirit to come through such hardship and express gratitude. Here is a great lesson. Surrounded by tremendous adversity, thanksgiving will deliver you...with heart and hand and voices. Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com Better Not Bitter If we are not thankful then we can become bitter. If we are not thankful, then it becomes too easy to sit around and ponder the question: why me? Dr. Jim Moore, retired pastor of St. Luke’s UMC in Houston wrote a book entitled "You Can Grow Bitter or You Can Grow Better". He writes that he got the idea for the title from a young woman who once came to him in a most tragic moment in her life. She had tears in her eyes and her knuckles were white as she twisted a handkerchief. She had just received word that her twenty-six year old husband had been killed in a farming accident, leaving her alone with three pre-school age children. One moment he was alive and vibrant, the next moment gone. "I don't know how I am going to be able to get along without him," she sobbed. "But I do know one thing. I can either get bitter or I can get better." One way that we can get better rather than bitter is to develop a thankful heart. We must learn to be grateful to the Lord with whom we shall spend eternity. Our morning prayer should always begin: O Thou who has given me so much, I pray that you give me yet one more thing--a grateful heart. Staff, www.eSermons.com God’s Provision The words "harvest" and "thanksgiving" are linked together in many cultures. Most who till the soil know that our feeble human efforts do not produce crops; crops require sun and rain and other variables that are beyond our control. The early settlers and the indigenous people they found here also recognized the importance of God's provision for survival. Hundreds of years later, a commemorative meal serves as a reminder for us to thank God for those things necessary for our survival. Safiyah Fosua 3. HOW TO BE A PILGRIM The Pilgrims had the courage to act on their commitments, no matter what. Do we? Sociologist Robert Bellah, author of Habits of the Heart, is impressed by the power of religion. He once said, "We should not underestimate the significance of the small group of people who have a new vision of a just and gentle world. The quality of a culture may be changed when two percent of its people have a new vision (and act on it)." Christians make up far more than two percent of most town, far more than two percent of Americans. So, why don't we have a greater effect: on issues of the environment, on justice for the needy, on the quality of life in our own city? Could it be we need more courage to act on our commitments? To be a Pilgrim means to stand up for what you believe, no matter what. To be a Pilgrim also means sharing what you have, and turning thanks into giving. The Pilgrim colonists willingly shared all they had. During their first three years, all property was held in common. At one point, they were down to five kernels of corn per day for food. Still, they divided the corn kernels up equally. And, the original group of fifty that survived the first winter shared their limited food with the sixty newcomers who arrived in the spring. One of their finest moments came in 1623, at the first real Thanksgiving. The small colony hosted over ninety Native American braves for three days. There was eating and drinking, wrestling, footraces, and gun and arrow-shooting competitions. It was the Pilgrims' way of saying "Thank you" to God, and to the Native Americans who had helped them survive. To be a Pilgrim means sharing and turning thanks into giving. How thankful and giving are we? 22. SEVEN THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR Seven things to be grateful for: For automatic dishwashers. They make it possible to get out of the kitchen before the family come in for their after-dinner snacks. For husbands who attack small repair jobs around the house. They usually make them big enough to call in professionals. For the bathtub the one place the family allows Mom some time to herself. For children who put away their things and clean up after themselves. They're such a joy you hate to see them go home to their own parents. For gardening. It's a relief to deal with dirt outside the house for a change. For teenagers. They give parents an opportunity to learn a second language. For smoke alarms. They let you know when the turkey's done. 23. HAVE YOU TAKEN INVENTORY LATELY? The renown teacher and author Dr. David McLennon tells a story of his very first job in a small town general store. This was the day before mails and supermarket chains at least it was in his community. At age thirteen he was hired as a handy boy. He would sweep the flour, bag items for customers, put up stock. On one particular Saturday, he recalled, he heard the owner say to one of the clerks "It's that time of the year again, it's time to take inventory." Dr. McLennon wrote that this was a word that had not yet entered into his vocabulary. When an opportune moment arrived, he went up to the kindly older man and asked, Sir, what is an inventory? Patiently the owner explained that it was a time when you made a list of everything that you had from groceries on the shelves to wrapping paper and string. Still somewhat puzzled, the young McLennon then asked, Why? "Well," responded the owner, "it's easy to forget exactly how much you have each year. Every now and then you have to take an inventory just to see what all you have." That little story, to me, pretty well sums up what Thanksgiving is all about. It is a time when each of us needs to ask ourselves the question: Have I taken inventory of my life lately? Have I made an effort to count all the things that I do have in life instead of complaining about the things that I don't have. It is a good exercise especially when we are of a mind to brood or whine in self pity. Have you taken inventory lately? What I am suggesting here is not some shallow "count your blessings" platitude. But from time to time, in a genuine kind of a way, we need to sit down and do some talking to ourselves about all of the gifts and opportunities and challenges that God has given each one of us. Perhaps there is a deep underlying wisdom in the children's poem that says: "Count your blessings one by one, and you might be surprised what the Lord has done." 28. GOD IN THE ORDINARY Once upon a time, there was a far-away land that was ruled by a vicious king. His iron hand reached into every corner of his subjects' lives. Every corner - except one. Try as he might, he couldn't destroy their belief in God. In his frustration, he finally summoned his advisors and asked them: "Where can I hide God so the people will end up forgetting about him?" One suggested hiding God on the dark side of the moon. This idea was debated, but was voted down because the advisors feared that their scientists would one day discover a way to travel into space travel and God would be discovered again. Another suggested burying God in the deepest part of the ocean. But there was the same problem with this idea, so it was voted down. One idea after another was suggested and debated and rejected. Until finally the oldest and wisest advisor had a flash of insight. "I know," he said, "why don't we hide God where no one will ever even think to look?" And he explained, "If we hide God in the ordinary events of people's everyday lives, they'll never find him!" And so it was done. And they say people in that land are still looking for God - even today. 31. TOO MUCH TURKEY In 1953, the Swanson food company found themselves with too much turkey on their hands after disappointing Thanksgiving sales. One innovative employee came up with the idea of packaging individual servings of turkey and vegetables in an oven-safe aluminum tray. Thus was born the first TV dinner. 49. THANKSGIVING DAY - DO NOT WORRY It is interesting that on Thanksgiving Day, our lesson from the Gospel should be on being anxious. Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you — you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Interesting text for Thanksgiving, isn’t it? On the other hand, maybe it’s right on target. After all, gratitude is the perfect antidote for anxiety. Looking over the total scope of your life, hasn’t God been good to you? Do you think the future will be any different? A man invited a friend to go hear a preacher, saying, “I want you to hear the most thankful preacher I’ve ever heard.” The two men weathered a storm to hear him preach. On the way they thought nobody would be there; that even the preacher wouldn’t come. But when they got to the little country church, there was the preacher seated on the platform. The stranger said to his friend, “He has nobody to preach to. There’s a storm outside. It looks like we will have a flood. He won’t have anything to be thankful for tonight.” “Yes, he will. He’ll thank God for something.” When the preacher stood up, he bowed his head and prayed, “Dear Lord, it is stormy outside. It looks as if the roads will wash away before we can get out of the church tonight. It’s an awful storm. But we’re thankful that it’s not always this way.” The only way you can thank God for “all things” is to couple the “all things” of Ephesians 5:20 with the “all things” of Romans 8:28: “And we know that ALL THINGS work together for good to them that love God. . . .” If you really believe that, you can thank God even for the bad things in life.8 Few Americans have had more setbacks than the Pilgrims who made seven times more graves than huts. They still set aside a day for giving thanks.

Is Christ the King?

Rev. Harriette Cross First United Methodist Church of Wilmington Christ the King Sunday November 21, 2021 Year B Opening Song Welcome – Christ the King Sunday Invocation/Opening Prayer We come this day, rejoicing, in the presence of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. At his birth the angels proclaimed his name to be Emmanuel, God with us. Today in this place, in this time of worship, may we truly feel the power and presence of Jesus Christ in our lives. May our hearts and spirits be warmed and challenged to proclaim with our lives, "Christ is Lord!". AMEN. Stewardship Moment Moment for Stewardship (adapted from John 18) Living in the United States, many eagerly proclaim our independence. We are not officially designated into higher and lower class (or caste). We drink in the stories of those who started with little or nothing, used their ingenuity, luck, and being in the “right place at the right time”, to make it to the top: Army recruit who became a General, ragamuffin who now owns the profitable company, Hollywood waitstaff now in top demand as an actor. Yet today, we’re hearing about Jesus as Ruler. This one? Is this the same one born to parents not yet married, beginning life in a cave (or stable), turned refugee and then growing up to wander the countryside as a preacher/teacher/healer, with a curious band of disciples. A RULER? Perhaps it’s just this identity which calls us to Jesus. This Jesus is the one we want to rule in our hearts, link us to the Creator, and challenge us to take our place as followers. Jesus is the one who teaches his followers to be stewards of God’s many gifts; care-takers of what doesn’t actually belong to us. We’re faced with Jesus’ challenges to “love your neighbor”, “feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those in prison”. Today, we have opportunity to bear witness to our own identity not as independent operators, but as followers of Jesus. One way to do that is to share abundantly with others. You may offer your gifts to support this congregation, to strengthen our connection to ____________, to provide care for _____________. It’s your move. What will you do with this one opportunity to claim Jesus as Lord in your life? Prayer of Thanksgiving Bountiful God, As we move toward Thanksgiving, many of us eagerly anticipating time with family and friends, we take this moment to offer our thanks to you for all you have provided. Please receive our gifts today, knowing they come in return, as signs and symbols of our daily lives. Help us use these gifts to share Good News with those who struggle. AMEN Scripture 2 Samuel 23:1-7 Common English Bible David’s last words 23 These are David’s last words: This is the declaration of Jesse’s son David, the declaration of a man raised high, a man anointed by the God of Jacob, a man favored by the strong one of Israel.[a] 2 The LORD’s spirit speaks through me; his word is on my tongue. 3 Israel’s God has spoken, Israel’s rock said to me: “Whoever rules rightly over people, whoever rules in the fear of God, 4 is like the light of sunrise on a morning with no clouds, like the bright gleam after the rain that brings grass from the ground.” 5 Yes, my house is this way with God![b] He has made an eternal covenant with me, laid out and secure in every detail. Yes, he provides every one of my victories and brings my every desire to pass. 6 But despicable people are like thorns, all of them good for nothing, because they can’t be carried by hand. 7 No one can touch them, except with iron bar or the shaft of a spear. They must be burned up with fire right on the spot! Sermon – Is Christ the King? I want to start out today by sharing some famous last words of people. The world has always delighted in recording the last words of famous people. O’Henry died saying, "Turn up the lights, I don’t want to go home in the dark." Ballerina Anna Pavlova died crying out, "Get my swan costume ready." Legend has it that an expiring Oscar Wilde complained, "Either that wallpaper goes, or I do." Rock musician Terry Kath, playing Russian roulette with a loaded pistol, remarked, "Don’t worry, it isn’t loaded." My grandmother told me that, in her day, when folks usually died at home, the family often gathered around the deathbed to hear a loved one’s final words. Today you may remember the last words spoken to you by someone you loved. In this chapter we hear the last words of one of our great fathers of faith. David’s strong booming voice rings down the ages as he rang down the curtain on one of the greatest lives ever lived. Joseph Heller in his satirical new novel about David, begins his fiction with David saying, "I have the best story in the Bible." • After Steve’s death, The New York Times published a eulogy delivered by Mona Simpson, Steve’s sister. In her eulogy, Mona described Steve Jobs’ last words on his deathbed as, “OH WOW. OH WOW. OH WOW.” Four years later, in 2015, an essay that purported to be Steve Jobs’ last speech began circulating. Jesus last words were recorded to be Make Disciples of all nations, I will be with you until the end of the age. Our sermon today are known as the last words of David. In reality, David lived a lot longer that these words. There is one more chapter in the book of Samuel. And David’s actual last words are recorded much later, when he crowns his son Solomon as king and tells him to make sure that he kills all of the rest of his brothers in order to stay on the throne. But these words in 2 Samuel 23 have a much more important message for us today. Our narrative today, 2 Samuel 23:1-7, is often called "the last words of David." Whether he or some later writer composed these words doesn’t really matter. They sum up some of what he brought to the world and they point the way forward. They give a glimpse for the people of Israel of what leadership and the kingdom can achieve. This legacy suggests the perpetuity of the house (dynasty) of David. They are words of assurance that God will dwell with his people. These are truly "famous last words." In them there are at least three themes: (1) David’s words were good words because the Spirit of the Lord spoke through him (2 Samuel 23:2); (2) a glimpse of perfect leadership (2 Samuel 23:3-4); and (3) an everlasting relationship/covenant (2 Samuel 23:5). 2 Samuel 23:3 says whoever rules rightly over people, whoever rules in the fear of God, is like the light of sunshine on a morning without clouds, like the bright gleam after the rain. When we live a life of righteousness we are the light of sunshine for a cloudy world. When we follow the model of leadership of David we are the bright gleam. David words are wonderful, he was known for us poetry, for his leadership, for the promise that God made to him that he would always have a descendent on the throne for his kingdom. Unfortunately the biblical history shows that not to be true. David’s grandson only two generations later was the king to lose half of the kingdom when Judah and Israel split. And 500 years later the whole kingdom disappeared all together. And yet the book of Matthew is determined to prove that Jesus comes from David’s lineage. So David’s promise can continue and be taught to a whole new generation. A grandmother wanted her granddaughter to attend Sunday school. So she arranged to pick her up and take her. She took her to her class and introduced her to her teacher. Following the class the grandmother picked her up and drove her home. The grandmother was anxious to hear about her granddaughter's experience. She noticed that her granddaughter was in a rather pensive mood as she silently stared out of the car window. Finally, the grandmother could not stand the suspense any longer and asked her granddaughter, "Well, what did you think of Sunday school?" Thoughtfully, she replied, "Grandma, what's so great about Jesus?" The Wizard of Id comic strip characterizes a feisty little fellow as the despotic ruler of the Land of Id. In one strip, the king opens his mail and reads aloud, "This is to notify you that you have been chosen to be presiding king at the kings' conference this year." The king begins to jump up and down, excitedly proclaiming, "Hallelujah! I'm the king of kings! I'm the king of kings!" In the next frame a fiery bolt of lightning descends from on high. In the final frame, a charred and frizzled little king hears a mighty voice booming from the dark cloud above, "In your dreams, buster!"1 It is Jesus who has the title of King of Kings What Kind of a Kingdom has Jesus? What kind of a Kingdom has Jesus? No castle nor palace has he. No congress nor parliament sitting, deciding what laws there will be. Perhaps he has need of but two laws: Love God and your neighbor as well. To obey them is all that is needed, as all of the saintly can tell. He has neither army nor navy, no air force to guard the frontiers to keep out the strangers unwanted and maintain the enemy’s fears. Immigration he seems to encourage, of some quite disreputable, like fishermen, publicans, sinners. To such he is hospitable. It seems there’s no revenue service or taxes we must calculate. He surely cannot run a kingdom on what we put into the plate! No 1040 form comes in April to fill out before the fifteenth, with penalties charged for nonpayment, beginning upon the sixteenth. No currency’s here with his picture, no coinage engraved with his name. And where are the posters and slogans proclaiming his power and fame? And I see no trappings of kingship, no robes made of velvet and fur, no crown made of gold set with diamonds, to befit our supreme arbiter. Jesus said that his kingdom was really not what Pilate had thought it had been. It was not of this world. And its glory was not of the kind to be seen. For those of us here in his kingdom, there is one other thing we have known: of the kingdoms around in his lifetime, it’s the only one left with a throne. Andrew Daughters, The Kingdom of Jesus, CSS Publishing. Today Jesus kingdom lies in the heart of the church and those who choose to follow him. His kingdom is not about approval ratings but it is in what we do in the world. It is about power and control. The way that we use power and control in our lives. Is it for our personal gain, or for the wellbeing of all people. When we follow Jesus we are all called to be leaders and to live according to the qualities of the king. David’s promise applies to us all. There is a story of a little boy who was in a hospital in England in the days of King George V. George V was king of Great Britain from 1910 until his death in 1936. This was when marriage was used as a political tool among the royal houses of Europe. So George was a grandson of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and the first cousin of both Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. And yet George was far less pretentious than many of history’s monarchs. The patients in this particular hospital where the little boy in our story was being treated were told that the king was going to pay them a visit that day. So everybody put on their best clothes as they were lying in their bed, waiting for the king to come. This little boy was eager to see the king. All day long there were a number of visitors, because it was visitor’s day. And along about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, a man came in with a number of other men with him. He spoke to some of the boys and girls. He even spoke to this young boy who was waiting so eagerly to see the king. He patted him on the head. He spoke very nicely to the boy and left. That night, as he was being made ready for bed, the little boy spoke to the nurse. “Nurse,” he complained, “the king didn’t come!” And she said, “Oh, the king did come. Don’t you remember that nice elderly man that came over to you and patted you on the head? And spoke so sweetly to you?” David W. Miller, Reign of Truth And he said, “Yes, I do.” She said, “Well, that was the king.” The boy protested, “But nurse, he didn’t have on his crown!” This is what most disappointed the people who came to see Jesus. He wore no crown… What makes people great? By the standards of our society, greatness appears to be based on four possible foundations: wealth, honors, fame, or power. The power may be physical, as in the agility and stamina of an athlete. The power may also be financial or political. In contrast to these sources of greatness, the author of the Second Book of Samuel traces greatness to God. In speaking about King David, the author wrote: "David son of Jesse was the man whom God made great, whom the God of Jacob chose to be king, and who was the composer of beautiful songs for Israel" (2 Samuel 23:1-2, TEV). The same God who inspired greatness in his servant David is the God who inspires greatness in you. "I am sure," wrote Saint Paul, "that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns" (Philippians 1:6, LB). There are four qualities to this divinely inspired greatness: humility, helpfulness, hopefulness, heroism. First, a person is made great by being humble, Secondly, a person is made great by being helpfulThirdly, a person is made great by being hopeful, Fourthly, a person is made great by being heroic, David’s heroism inspired heroism in his soldiers. They seem to fulfill the statement of Thomas Carlyle, "We cannot look, however imperfectly, upon a great man without gaining something from him." The scriptures say, "These are the names of David’s heroes" (2 Samuel 23:8, NEB). and then lists more than thirty heroic soldiers. Heroes affect us in four ways. First, a hero captures our attention. One of those heroes was a man named Benaiah "who went down into a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day" (2 Samuel 23:20, NEB). Because we face problems that stalk us like lions, we admire Benaiah, whose action captures our attention. Secondly, a hero crystallizes our intention. The lion that Benaiah faced strayed up from the area near the Jordan River and was stranded in a snowstorm. The presence of that lion was not under Benaiah’s control. However, what Benaiah could control and what we can control is our reaction to the problems we face. That type of self-control is a personal goal worth developing. Benaiah’s example helps us to crystallize just such an intention. Thirdly, a hero cultivates our retention. Although it was a snowy day and the lion was in a pit, Benaiah did not run away; he held his ground before the lion. Benaiah’s courage in the face of unfavorable circumstances encourages our retention, our holding on when the going gets tough. As a Norwegian proverb says, "A hero is one who knows how to hold on one minute longer." Fourthly, a hero catalyzes our extension. Just as a certain substance can spark a chemical reaction, so a heroic figure causes us to enlarge our outlook and to expand our efforts toward our goals. The Last Word Have you ever been in a heated argument with someone and couldn't let the matter drop? You just had to continue making your point. Why? Because you had to have the last word. If you have ever been in a classroom discussion, you have discovered the importance of that class reaching some sort of resolution and conclusion to the discussion. Students will often look to the teacher to settle the matter. The teacher has the last word. If you ever watched Ted Koppel on the late night television show Nightline, you saw him struggle with trying to be fair in dealing with two or more opposing points of view. It is also obvious how important it is to have the last word on that show. The last one to speak always seems to have the most lasting impact. To have the last word is to be the final authority. To have the last word is to have the most power. To have the last word means that you are in control, that you are the boss. Ask any coach, teacher, manager, CEO, or parent and they will tell you that having the last word is what they are all about. However we might think that a king is an old-fashioned and irrelevant image for an authority figure for the late twentieth century (and that is probably accurate!), nevertheless, before we throw this day out of our liturgical calendar, we ought to get behind the historical cobwebs of a king and look instead at what the tradition of the church is really trying to communicate with this day of Christ the King. Perhaps "King" isn't a helpful way to talk about Jesus in this day and age, but if we think of a king as someone who has the last word, who is the final authority and power in life, then celebrating Christ as King might begin to make more sense. Steven E. Albertin, Against the Grain -- Words for a Politically Incorrect Church, CSS Publishing, Lima Christ the king Sunday is the last word of the Christian year. It is intended for us to remember that the last word in our faith is Jesus Christ is Lord and King of our lives. We leave one Christian year and enter into another. We are ending year b – next week we begin year C – we follow the book of Luke. We prepare our hearts for Christ to come into our hearts in a whole new way. Thanksgiving ends and we start the first Sunday of advent. We did not look at psalm 132 – but it is a praise written by King David. In it, As God settles down and chooses to live among his people in a temple – the words of the psalm welcome God home to a heart fit for a king. As we prepare our hearts this year for the coming of the king – may we too live in the promises of God – may we remember that christ is indeed King of our hearts and everything that we do. Amen. Litany P: I am an independent person. I need no one. I am my own person. No one owns me! L: Come , bow down before your Lord, your King. P: Excuse me! I have no king. I don't need a king. L: The Lord Jesus Christ, he is the King of Kings. P: Where is his kingdom? L: In your heart and spirit. P: You've got to be kidding!? L: No, the Lord seeks to reign in your heart, to establish his kingdom in your life. P: Nobody's setting up shop in my head! L: It's difficult to understand. The Lord Jesus Christ is seeking you out, as friend, and witness. P: Witness to what? L: To God's absolute love for you and for all creation. P: All I see is war and violence; viciousness and hatred. L: Open your eyes. There is more to see than that. You yourself have been a blessing to someone recently. P: Me? I don't think so. What do you mean? L: You recently offered your help to a person in need, didn't you? P: Well, yes. But..... L: You supported people who were in ministries of caring and compassion. P: Well, of course. That's what you should do. L: Why? P: Because they needed help and even though I couldn't provide it directly, I could help cover the expenses of those who could be right at hand. L: Why did you do it? P: Because it was needed. Someone has to help, right? L: It's nice that you are part of that "someone". Christ's love is reigning in you. P: I never thought of it that way. L: Whenever you have reached out to others in love and compassion, you have reached out to Christ. You have become part of the Kingdom team. P: But I don't feel controlled, ruled over. L: You're not. Christ is working with you to bring about God's kingdom. P: So, I'm actually doing what God wants? How about that! L: Keep on working. There is much to be done, and God is with you through it all. AMEN. Lord’s Prayer Song All Hail the Power of Jesus Name UMH 155 Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and Savior, you pour out your power for the powerless and your salvation for the lost. Remember us in your new creation, so that we may live in peace with you in the presence of the Holy One, to whom be all honor and glory, through you, in the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Luke 23:33-43 / Year C Community Time Benediction (Revelation 1, John 18) God calls us into the world to embody a realm that is not of this world. Go forth now in the name of the one who is, and was, and is to come. May God’s grace and peace be with you. Amen. Children’s Sermon One of the things I enjoyed most in school was a special day called "Hat Day." All of the students and teachers wore a hat to school on that day. You would see all kinds of hats -- big hats, small hats, cloth hats, and straw hats. Some were very funny. You know, you can tell a lot about a person by the kind of hat he wears. Sometimes, you can even tell what a person does for a living by the kind of hat he or she wears. I have a bag full of hats to show you. As I take a hat out of my bag, raise your hand if you think you know who would wear that kind of hat. Who knows who would wear a hat like this? (Fire Fighter's Hat) Right! A fire fighter. That was easy, wasn't it? How about this one? (Hard Hat) Oh, you are right again. Someone who works in construction would wear a hat like this. It is sometimes called a hard hat. People who build buildings, highways, bridges, and things like that. Have you ever seen anyone wearing a hat like this? (Cowboy Hat) Who would wear a hat like this? Yahoo! You got that right, it is worn by a cowboy or cowgirl. Now, this next one is a little different. Let's see if you can get this one. (Crown) I wonder who would wear something like this? Can you guess? I can't fool you, a crown is worn by a king or queen, isn't it? Today's lesson is about a King who was born many years ago. This king was different from most. What made this king different? Well, for one thing, he didn't live in a palace. He didn't wear a beautiful robe or a jeweled crown. He had no servants to wait on him -- and and no soldiers to fight his battles. He didn't even have a country over which to rule and there were no coins engraved with his face or his name. I imagine that most of you have probably guessed who this king is. The King is Jesus. He is not just any king, he is the King of Kings. His kingdom is not on earth, his kingdom is in heaven. That is why many people never chose to make him their king. When Jesus was on earth, the people were looking for a king who would set up a kingdom on earth. A kingdom where they would share the wealth and power. Jesus did finally wear a crown, but it wasn't a crown of gold with jewels, it was a crown of thorns. A cross became his throne and above his head was a sign that read, "This is the King of the Jews." Roman soldiers stood beneath his cross and mocked him. "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" they cried. Crucified 0n each side of Jesus were two criminals. One of them mocked him saying, "If you are the Messiah, prove it. Save yourself—and us, too, while you're at it!" But the other criminal said, "We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he turned to Jesus and said, "Remember me when you come into your Kingdom." Jesus replied, "Today you will be with me in paradise." Some people still refuse to recognize Jesus as King. But all around the world today the Word is spoken, "Jesus Christ is still the King of Kings." Jesus, today we crown you King and make you Lord of our life. Amen. Additional Illustrations History of Christ the King Sunday This is actually a pretty new festival in the church year. Its roots go back only to the late 1800's, when the world's great empires--British, American, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Japanese--were all at war or about to go to war somewhere. The man who was the pope of the Roman Catholic Church at the time wrote a letter in which he dedicated the world to Christ the King. In the letter, he reminded the empires that God is present with the whole human race, even with those who do not know God. After World War I, another pope designated the last Sunday in October as Christ the King Sunday, a day to remember that Christ received power and honor from God and was thereby made ruler of the universe. Eventually, Catholics moved Christ the King Sunday to the last Sunday of the church year, when they were already accustomed to reflecting on Christ's return at the end of time to rule over all creation, a theme which echoes throughout Revelation, the last book of the Bible. David W. Miller, Reign of Truth History of Christ the King Sunday This is actually a pretty new festival in the church year. Its roots go back only to the late 1800's, when the world's great empires--British, American, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Japanese--were all at war or about to go to war somewhere. The man who was the pope of the Roman Catholic Church at the time wrote a letter in which he dedicated the world to Christ the King. In the letter, he reminded the empires that God is present with the whole human race, even with those who do not know God. After World War I, another pope designated the last Sunday in October as Christ the King Sunday, a day to remember that Christ received power and honor from God and was thereby made ruler of the universe. Eventually, Catholics moved Christ the King Sunday to the last Sunday of the church year, when they were already accustomed to reflecting on Christ's return at the end of time to rule over all creation, a theme which echoes throughout Revelation, the last book of the Bible. Are you the king of the Jews? We are familiar with that question, which is asked of Jesus in the passion story. Everyone in those days knew what a king was! We are not talking here about best sport, or Miss Congeniality — we are talking kings! When Alexander the Great was the greatest king of the then-known world, he decided to conquer all of Asia Minor. Darius, the King of Persia, the only other ruler that could claim super-power status, sued for peace, saying to Alexander: "Let's you and me just divide up Asia together." To which Alexander replied, "Just as the earth can stand only one sun, so the world can have only one ruler!" Alexander promptly crushed Darius. If the church is to make a difference in the world, every one of its members must begin to act and think like leaders. Leadership is not for the few and the special, the exception rather than the expected. Whether this mysterious thing called "leadership" comes naturally or is an acquired talent, every Christian must come to terms with it. A biblical style of leadership and language of leadership must become endemic in the church Our narrative today, 2 Samuel 23:1-7, is often called "the last words of David." Whether he or some later writer composed these words doesn’t really matter. They sum up some of what he brought to the world and they point the way forward. They give a glimpse for the people of Israel of what leadership and the kingdom can achieve. This legacy suggests the perpetuity of the house (dynasty) of David. They are words of assurance that God will dwell with his people. These are truly "famous last words." In them there are at least three themes: (1) David’s words were good words because the Spirit of the Lord spoke through him (2 Samuel 23:2); (2) a glimpse of perfect leadership (2 Samuel 23:3-4); and (3) an everlasting relationship/covenant (2 Samuel 23:5). 1. Good words Language specialists claim that the five sweetest phrases in the English language are: "I love you." "Dinner is served." "All is forgiven." "Sleep ‘til noon." "Keep the change." And there are those who choose to add: "You’ve lost weight!" In a book titled Irrepressible Churchill, Kay Halle told the story of a little boy who lived near Chartwell, England. It was at Chartwell Manor that Winston Churchill lived after his retirement as prime minister in 1955. This little boy was taken to Chartwell by the woman who cared for him each day. She told the little boy that he was going to see "the greatest man in the whole, wide world." When this woman and the boy in her charge arrived at Chartwell Manor, they learned that Sir Winston had retired for his afternoon nap. While the woman was having tea, the little boy slipped away from the adults, climbed the stairs, and started to explore the house. He pushed open the door to one of the bedrooms and saw Winston Churchill curled up in bed, ready for one of his famous naps. The little boy crept to the bed and asked, "Are you the greatest man in the whole wide world?" Sir Winston fixed his eye on him for a moment, then replied, "Of course, I’m the greatest man in the whole wide world. Now buzz off." once heard the story of a dilapidated little shop whose owner was about to go out of business. The floor was unswept, the windows unwashed, the goods in disorder, and the proprietor careless and untidy. One day the king came by, saw the wretched condition of the place, and said to the shopkeeper, "If you will do as I say, I will let you put over the door 'approved by the king.' " The proprietor gladly consented. Everything was changed; the floor was swept, the windows washed, the goods in order, and the keeper himself cleaned up. Soon customers began to come and money rang in the cash register because of the approval of the king. Hallelujah! Have you ever let the king take over your life? Have we ever said: "Into my heart, into my heart, come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Come in today. Come in to stay. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus." A grandmother wanted her granddaughter to attend Sunday school. So she arranged to pick her up and take her. She took her to her class and introduced her to her teacher. Following the class the grandmother picked her up and drove her home. The grandmother was anxious to hear about her granddaughter's experience. She noticed that her granddaughter was in a rather pensive mood as she silently stared out of the car window. Finally, the grandmother could not stand the suspense any longer and asked her granddaughter, "Well, what did you think of Sunday school?" Thoughtfully, she replied, "Grandma, what's so great about Jesus?" once heard the story of a dilapidated little shop whose owner was about to go out of business. The floor was unswept, the windows unwashed, the goods in disorder, and the proprietor careless and untidy. One day the king came by, saw the wretched condition of the place, and said to the shopkeeper, "If you will do as I say, I will let you put over the door 'approved by the king.' " The proprietor gladly consented. Everything was changed; the floor was swept, the windows washed, the goods in order, and the keeper himself cleaned up. Soon customers began to come and money rang in the cash register because of the approval of the king. Hallelujah! Have you ever let the king take over your life? Have we ever said: "Into my heart, into my heart, come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Come in today. Come in to stay. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus." once heard the story of a dilapidated little shop whose owner was about to go out of business. The floor was unswept, the windows unwashed, the goods in disorder, and the proprietor careless and untidy. One day the king came by, saw the wretched condition of the place, and said to the shopkeeper, "If you will do as I say, I will let you put over the door 'approved by the king.' " The proprietor gladly consented. Everything was changed; the floor was swept, the windows washed, the goods in order, and the keeper himself cleaned up. Soon customers began to come and money rang in the cash register because of the approval of the king. Hallelujah! Have you ever let the king take over your life? Have we ever said: "Into my heart, into my heart, come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Come in today. Come in to stay. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus."