Living in the World as a Christian Part 2

Colossians 3:1-11 Living in the world as a Christian Part 2 8th Sunday of Pentecost Year C Opening Song Welcome Call to Worship One: Our Loving God gathers us from the east and the west, from the north and from the south. Many: The Holy One is in our midst. Let us say so! One: We cried out to our God in the time of trouble and eased our distress. Many: The Holy One is in our midst. God leads us on right paths. One: Our Provider satisfies our thirst and meets our needs. Many: The Holy One is in our midst. Consider God’s steadfast! (United Church of Christ Worship Ways – Rev. Dr. Cheryl Lindsay) Invocation Holy Love, we worship you as your people. You tether us to you in righteousness and covenant. Reveal your face to us. Let us see you in our midst, in our neighbors, and in ourselves. Clothe us in love and compassion, and continually fashion us as your people for you are our God. Amen. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Rev. Dr. Cheryl Lindsay) Song Help Us Accept Each Other UMH 560 Prayer for Transformation and New Life Gracious One, you have knit us together wonderfully. You have promised your abiding presence in our lives and have guided us with love. We turn away from you and toward the path to destruction and discord. We judge our neighbor rather than love them and we fail to even honor ourselves as your beloved creation. Amen. ( United Church of Christ Worship Ways – Rev. Dr. Cheryl Lindsay) Scripture Colossians 3:1-11 Sermon Being Christian in the World Part 2 Perhaps you have heard the story about the eagle that thought he was a chicken. Fable of the Eagle and the Chicken A fable is told about an eagle that thought he was a chicken. When the eagle was very small, he fell from the safety of his nest. A chicken farmer found the eagle, brought him to the farm, and raised him in a chicken coop among his many chickens. The eagle grew up doing what chickens do, living like a chicken, and believing he was a chicken. A naturalist came to the chicken farm to see if what he had heard about an eagle acting like a chicken was really true. He knew that an eagle is king of the sky. He was surprised to see the eagle strutting around the chicken coop, pecking at the ground, and acting very much like a chicken. The farmer explained to the naturalist that this bird was no longer an eagle. He was now a chicken because he had been trained to be a chicken and he believed that he was a chicken. The naturalist knew there was more to this great bird than his actions showed as he “pretended” to be a chicken. He was born an eagle and had the heart of an eagle, and nothing could change that. The man lifted the eagle onto the fence surrounding the chicken coop and said, “Eagle, thou art an eagle. Stretch forth thy wings and fly.” The eagle moved slightly, only to look at the man; then he glanced down at his home among the chickens in the chicken coop where he was comfortable. He jumped off the fence and continued doing what chickens do. The farmer was satisfied. “I told you it was a chicken,” he said. The naturalist returned the next day and tried again to convince the farmer and the eagle that the eagle was born for something greater. He took the eagle to the top of the farmhouse and spoke to him: “Eagle, thou art an eagle. Thou dost belong to the sky and not to the earth. Stretch forth thy wings and fly.” The large bird looked at the man, then again down into the chicken coop. He jumped from the man’s arm onto the roof of the farmhouse. Knowing what eagles are really about, the naturalist asked the farmer to let him try one more time. He would return the next day and prove that this bird was an eagle. The farmer, convinced otherwise, said, “It is a chicken.” The naturalist returned the next morning to the chicken farm and took the eagle and the farmer some distance away to the foot of a high mountain. They could not see the farm nor the chicken coop from this new setting. The man held the eagle on his arm and pointed high into the sky where the bright sun was beckoning above. He spoke: “Eagle, thou art an eagle! Thou dost belong to the sky and not to the earth. Stretch forth thy wings and fly.” This time the eagle stared skyward into the bright sun, straightened his large body, and stretched his massive wings. His wings moved, slowly at first, then surely and powerfully. With the mighty screech of an eagle, he flew. This story is a good summary of the message of Colossians. As I said this message is a continuation of last week message of what it means for us to live in the world as Christians. In chapter 2 Paul is doing some very gentle teaching about what it means to be a Christian. In chapter 3 he changes his intention a little and he is preaching – telling us what we should be doing with that knowledge. People who don’t know God live as chickens looking at the ground, and when we are resurrected in Christ we are encouraged to look up to the sky for our guidance. It is nothing wrong with identifying with the people of the world. But the mark of a true Christian is baptism. When we are baptized then we are dead to the sin of the world and alive and raised in the resurrection of Christ. We are eagles in the spirit, living in the mud of the world. Dr. John Maxwell writes: “When we become conditioned to perceived truth and closed to new possibilities, the following happens: We wee what we expect to see, not what we can see. We hear what we expect to hear, not what we can hear. We think what we expect to think not what we can think. (Take) the case (of) Henry J. Kaiser’s construction crew. While building a levee along a river bank, a violent rainstorm flooded the earth-moving machinery and destroyed the work that had been done. As Kaiser approached the work site to assess the damages, he found his crew bemoaning the mud and the buried earthmoving equipment. As his workers surrounded him, Kaiser asked, ‘Why are you so glum?’ ‘Can’t you see the disaster?’ they asked. ‘Our equipment is covered with mud.’ Smiling, Kaiser asked, ‘What mud?’ ‘You must be kidding. Look around you. We are surrounded by a sea of mud. How can you say you don’t see any?’ ‘Well,’ said Henry Kaiser, ‘what I see is clear blue sky filled with bright sunshine. I’ve never known mud to sustain itself against the powerful sun. Soon it will be dried up and then we will be able to move our equipment and start over. Furthermore, our attitude will not only affect how we see reality but will also affect the reality itself. Sun or mud, the choice is yours.’ The difference between sun or mud is a matter of perspective. Again, what we expect to see we see. This delightful story involving Henry J. Kaiser reinforces our choice to look at any situation from more than one point of view.”(Speaker’s Sourcebook II, page 50) A Man focused in the things of the earth An article in a San Francisco newspaper reported that a young man who once found a $5 bill on the street resolved that from that time on he would never lift his eyes while walking. The paper went on to say that over the years he accumulated, among other things, 29,516 buttons, 54,172 pins, 12 cents a bent back, and a miserly disposition. But he also lost something—the glory of sunlight, the radiance of the stars, the smiles of friends, and the freshness of blue skies. I’m afraid that some Christians are like that man. While they may not walk around staring at the sidewalk, they are so engrossed with the things of this life that they give little attention to spiritual and eternal values. Paul also likes to use the theme of putting on things and taking off things. Living in layers. Paul encourages us to put on the values of Christ. This is not the first time that Paul encourages us to be clothed in Christ. We all know that story of the emporer’s new clothes. The emporers tailors convince him that they have made a fine robe with material so exquisite that only the best of people can really see it. The emporer parades around town in his “fine robe” and the people pretend his robe is amazing. Only a little boy tells the truth that he has no clothes on. Paul says that when we are naked in the world there is sexual immorality, moral corruption, lust, evil desire, and greed. When we are clothed in Christ there is Peace, joy and wellbeing. Our perspective changes when we remember to look up once in awhile. In the early church, when people were about to be baptized, the bishop would yell to them to take off our clothes. Things have changed, in baptism people don’t have to get undressed (Oh, in the old days people would undress in private and put on a white robe). But today we are still encouraged to take off our old self and put on a new self. There is a Scottish “first footing” prayer to bring in the New Year. You can find it in the “Prayers and Readings from the Northumbria Community.” Will you repeat after me, line by line, as we pray it together: this day is a new day that has never been before this year is a new year, the opening door. Open the door... Open the door. But wait . . . Before you do, put on some clothes -compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and love. When we come to church we are in the transformation place, the safe space for us to take off our old self, and to become anew in Christ. What parts of yourself that are better off left behind? And what behaviors that reflect the true character of God? what new clothes have you put on today? Something for us all to think about. Amen. Song In Christ There is no East or West UMH 548 Prayer of the Day Benevolent God, you are the source, the guide, and the goal of our lives. Teach us to love what is worth loving, to reject what is offensive to you, and to treasure what is precious in your sight, Through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) Pastoral Prayer Lord’s Prayer Children’s Sermon By Lois Parker Edstrom Suggestion: Wear an article of clothing that is much too small. The kids will love the silliness of it. Today’s Bible verse talks about being angry, being hurtful to others, or saying nasty or untrue things. This verse says: “…put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth” (3:8). We are reminded that once we have accepted God’s love we need to put away those things that no longer suit us. It is like outgrowing your coat. When it no longer fits, it is time to replace that coat with one that fits better. God’s love helps us to overcome the bad choices we make such as hurting others, saying untrue, hurtful things, getting angry or telling lies. It’s not much fun to talk about these bad choices, but we all need a reminder once in a while. Once we know better, we can do better. God’s love teaches us how to be a better person. It teaches us how to feel more joy. God’s love teaches us to be all that we can be. Why would you want to wear a coat that is too tight and uncomfortable? Why would you want to live in a way that no longer fits who you are? Enjoy your new life, your new way of living. Stewardship Moment Moment for Stewardship (inspired by Luke 12) Jesus spent time teaching both his disciples and the crowds who gathered, often using parables as one form of instruction/inspiration. “The parable of the rich fool” may be heard as WARNING. But it also may be heard as an invitation. For those living selfishly, the warning sounds like a threat of life coming to an early end because of one’s greed and desire to pile up MORE. For those living “rich toward God”, this comes as an invitation to wisely apportion one’s wealth. Here’s the question: how are you living? Week by week, when we gather to worship God, we have opportunities to demonstrate ways we are aligned with God’s design for living. Do we exhibit fruit of the Spirit: joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). Or do we exhibit works of the flesh: … anger, quarrels, strife, jealousy …(Gal.5: 19-21) Do we acknowledge our identity as part of community/ies such as this congregation, our neighborhood, service organizations, public service…? Do we share what we have (money, possessions, space, privilege…)? Please hear the invitation via the rich fool. Share now, as we receive our morning offering. Prayer of Thanksgiving God of all good gifts, thank you for this opportunity helping us learn from Jesus’ parable. Thank you for all who today acted out their desire to be rich toward you. Receive these gifts. Help us use them to build up a world where believers lead the way with generosity and all know the goodness of sharing in a life of abundance. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Happy are those who know real treasure and where to find it. Happy are those who receive God’s treasure and share it unselfishly. Invest your life and your heart in Christ, just as God has invested Christ in you. Happy are those whose reward is found in heaven, not on earth. Go now in the name of Christ, God’s ultimate gift of love. Thanks be to God. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, J. Wayne Pratt) Community Time Benediction As we have been led by cords of human kindness, let us live connected to all creation. As we have been freed, may we pursue liberty for all. As we have known God’s gracious love, may we embody God’s abundant love. Amen. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways – Rev. Dr. Cheryl Lindsay) Additional Illustrations

You Can't Have Two Women in the Same Kitchen

July 17, 2022 Luke 10:38-42 You Can’t Have Two Women in the Same Kitchen 5th Sunday After Pentecost Year C Opening Song Welcome Call to Worship L: How are you this morning? P: It would be easy for us to say “fine, thank you”, but the truth is that there are lots of things going on in your lives, lots of time crunches and pressures. L: You have come to the right place. Rest for a minute. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Just relax and let your heart be open to God’s word for you. P: That sounds good to us. L: Feel the healing, soothing power of God’s love for you. P: Lord, we rest our minds, spirits, and hearts in your compassionate love. AMEN. (Nancy Townley for United Methodist Ministry Matters) Invocation Divine Gardener, we need your care and nurture. Fertilize our soil and our souls. Plant seeds of wisdom, inspiration, and discernment. Prune us today for more abundance tomorrow. Refresh us with living water. Revive us again. Amen. (Faith INFO Team for United Church of Christ Worship Ways) Song Be Thou My Vision UMH 451 Scripture Luke 10:38-42 Sermon – You Can’t Have Two Women in the Same Kitchen Every kitchen has one, whether it is in at home, or at a business or in the church. Some people say that she is the kitchen witch, some say the kitchen nazi, I prefer the title kitchen queen or king. Every kitchen has someone who is considered the boss, in control of everything that happens in that kitchen. And Martha was the appropriate person to be in charge. The name Martha means the lady of the house. Luke does not tell us a lot about who Martha was – but it does say the it was her household. She must have invited Jesus and the disciples to come to the house for dinner, or for rest on the way to Jerusalem. And as they were coming, she had to make sure that everything was perfect for their stay. That would be what the head of the household did. She didn’t have to actually do the work, but she would have been the manager to make sure everything got done. Apparently the only staff that she had to help was her little sister Mary. If Martha was the head of the household, then it was her little sister’s job to take instructions and do whatever her older sister told her to. That was in the household rule book. But you know what they say about two women in the same kitchen. It doesn’t always work out. So I think Mary just got tired of being told what to do, and decided to stay out of the kitchen and to let Martha do all of the work. As a matter of fact, the name Martha means lady of the house, Mary means rebel.- or beloved one who doesn’t have to do anything. If Martha was the host and Jesus was the guest, why else would she ask Jesus to make her sister come back in the kitchen to help? One of the first places that we visited on our trip to Israel was Bethel. I remember it being like a small space, with very small houses very close together. Each house was probably about the size of my living room and kitchen. It was a very cramped space. There is no way Jesus and 72 of his disciples was going to get into one house, I can’t even see it being enough room for 12 guest to be comfortable. And I certainly remember the kitchen, definitely not enough room for 2 people to be comfortable cooking. The two lessons that I remember from visiting that space. First, like many sites on Israel, they were not certain that this was the real site of Bethel, it was just a guestimate. This would have been an example of the scene of this story. Secondly, our guides pointed out – Mary and Martha would have been very popular names. So are Mary and Martha in Luke, the same as the Mary, Martha and Lazurus of the book of John? We will never know. The point of the story is that Mary and Martha could have been anyone in their society. The story of Mary and Martha is the story of any two women who couldn’t cook together in the same kitchen. Luke’s details about the story are vague enough for each of us to see ourself in the story. Would we be the Martha of the house- working hard to make sure that everything was perfect for our guest, or would we be Mary – wanting to be present with our guest, listening to every thing going on? Of course, in the story, when Martha asks Jesus to correct Mary, it seems as if Jesus takes Mary’s side when he says that life is about choices, and Mary has made the better choice. If Martha had made the decision to sit and listen to the teachings, then no one would have had dinner that day. This scripture can stir up a lot of emotions, about the work of the household and even the church. IT seems that the person who is doing all of the work, is not being acknowledged for that work. When we hear this story, we too think that we have to make a choice and pick who is right and who is wrong. Are we a Martha is our work for God, or are we a Mary? At times I have been both. We also have to remember, that this is not the first time that Jesus has been asked to make a choice between two siblings. And every time, Jesus responds that is not his place. This is not a story about who is right, it is a story about hospitality, and ultimately discipleship. We are still in chapter 10 of Luke, where Jesus is traveling to Jersalem. And the lesson he has been teaching is on hospitality. We have been in chapter 10 for 3 weeks now. First Jesus commissions the 72 people to go out and depend on the hospitality of the community, next Jesus uses the Samaritan to ask us who is our neighbor, and today Mary and Martha remind is that discipleship is a matter of both/and hospitality and presence. This story is not called Mary or Martha, it is called Mary and Martha. We Need Martha and Mary Max Lucado is right on target when he writes: "Every church needs a Martha. Change that. Every church needs a hundred Marthas. Sleeves rolled up and ready, they keep the pace for the church. Because of Marthas the church budgets get balanced church buildings get repaired and cleaned babies get bounced on loving knees in the nursery. You don't appreciate Marthas until a Martha is missing and all the Marys of the church start scrambling to find the keys to lock doors, turn off the lights and turn off the fans. Yes, the Marthas are the Energizer Bunnies of the church. They keep going and going and going." Martha was a live wire to be sure. However, even live wires need a time out for recharging. Work without worship will soon burn you out. Even in church we can lose our sense of perspective. Max Lucado, A Gentle Thunder, Word Publishing, 1995, page 127. I think the challenge for many of us is to find the balance between hard work and resting in Jesus. Our lesson, is that hospitality is an important part of discipleship. In chapter 10 Jesus teaches that all of us here have a purpose and Jesus commissions us to go forth, that serving God can leave us vulnerable and sometimes full of questions, and it is important for us to do the work, but also to be present to those we are helping. In allowing Mary to sit at Jesus’ feet, Jesus takes over the job of being the host. Jesus becomes the servant and shows us what hospitality for all of the world looks like. Jesus tells us the in hospitality and discipleship only one thing is necessary – In the classic Billy Crystal movie “City Slickers,” three longtime friends face middle age. In their middle-age crisis they find themselves losing their focus and in danger of losing their families. To reignite the fire in their lives the guys sign up as “cowboys,” helping a dude ranch move its herd of cattle from high in the hills down to the lower valley. “Curly,” the grizzled old cowboy who leads them, seems to be the toughest, canniest, wisest person they have ever met. Billy Crystal asks the usually tight-lipped cowpoke what his secret is. What makes his life so strong and centered and sure. Curly smiles, raises his grubby, gloved index finger and proclaims, “It is just one thing,” then he rides away. Billy’s character spends the rest of the movie frantically trying to figure out what Curly meant. What IS that “just one thing?” Psychologists, marriage counselors, relationship gurus of all stripes, warn us not to expect one person to provide for all our emotional, intellectual, and relational needs. We need a variety of relationships, a network of spouses, friends, colleagues from work, basketball buddies, quilting club comrades, children, elders, and peers, to meet all our relational needs. But what might be true for our human connections does not hold true for our spiritual needs. Our soul needs only “one thing.” No matter what your denomination. No matter if your spiritual temperament is exuberant, reserved, flamboyant, or meditative. Whether your soul craves cathedrals, or soars under the blue dome, it is all the same as long as we have that “one thing.” That “one thing” is Jesus. The point of our hospitality is always to be disciples of Christ. Amen. Song What a Friend we have in Jesus UMH 526 Prayer of the Day Eternal God, you draw near to us in Christ, and you make yourself our guest. Amid the cares of our lives, make us attentive to your presence, that we may treasure your word above all else, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America worship resources) Pastoral Prayer Lord’s Prayer UMH 894 Children’s Sermon Kristin Schmidt Hello! So, how are you guys doing today? What have you been up to this weekend? (Take a few answers, but cut students off before they get too detailed, explaining that you don’t have much time) Okay okay, we need to keep going…let’s move on, we need to learn about Jesus and we are actually taking a very quick quiz about Bible stories. What is your favorite Bible story or Bible character? Come on, quickly now, we don’t have all day; favorite Bible character- go! (Rush children through answers…) Well, here are some Bible stories I have (Hold up illustrated Bible or pictures of stories): what’s in this picture? Who is this one? Hurry, hurry, I hope you know these? What’s this one? (After flipping through several stories, slow down somewhat) Well, it might have felt a little rushed and stressful to have all of those questions thrown at you so quickly, huh? I have another question…how do we get to Heaven? How do we get God’s love? (Take a few answers) Do you think we have to do special things to be better Christians? Well, sometimes we think that we have to do certain things or know certain things in order to be a “just right” Christian or have God love us more. We get caught up in hurrying through life and thing we look better if we go to church a lot or do a lot of important things. But you know what? There is nothing we can do to earn God’s love. And there’s nothing we need to do to earn His love! He already loves us, and all we have to do is accept His love and know that Jesus died for us. He did all the work. And He wants us to just be ourselves and enjoy His presence. There is a story in the Bible about two sisters who had Jesus over for dinner. One of them was named Martha. Martha was very busy, and she was rushing around preparing for Jesus. She was cooking and cleaning and working, and she got upset because her sister, Mary, was just hanging out with Jesus. She wasn’t helping do the work but just sat listening to Jesus talk. Martha got upset and asked Jesus to yell at her about it. But He told her Mary was the one doing the right thing. It was not as important to do things for Jesus as it was to spend time with Him. Jesus didn’t want a dusted floor or fresh loaf of bread. He wanted people. And that is how He feels about us, too! What’s important is not just what we know or say or do…it’s how we love God. We can breathe and pause and rest in His presence. He is always there for us! (Hold up small toy) Look at this…what does it do? Does it sing or cook or dance in circles? No. But we can enjoy it just for what it is. That’s sort of how God feels about us. He made us, and He doesn’t require any special activities. He loves us just because we are His children! So remember, there’s nothing wrong with doing things for God. But that is not the most important thing. We can rest in Him and know we are part of His family, no matter what else we do. Isn’t that great news? Let’s thank God for that… Prayer: (Have kids repeat each line, if desired) Dear God, Thank you for the words of the Bible Thank you for making us part of your family Help us to slow down and breathe And rest in your presence Thank you for your love We love you, God! Thank you for Jesus In His name, Amen! Stewardship Moment Invitation to Generosity Colossians 1:18 reminds us that Jesus is the head of the church and first in all things. May we place Christ first as we share the gifts we have been given. Prayer of Dedication and Thanksgiving Alpha and Omega, may these gifts meet the needs before us, the community around us, and the call within us. Amen. (Faith INFO Ministry Team for United Church of Christ Worship Ways) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook God calls. Christ walks with us. The Holy Spirit guide us. As we enter this new week may we go with the grace and blessings of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. (Terri McDowell Ott for Presbyterian Outlook) Community Time Benediction As you go, make known the wonders of God, share the hope of God, and spread the love of God. The grace of God will sustain and guide you. The glory of God will propel you. Amen. (Faith INFO Ministry Team for United Church of Christ Worship Ways) Additional illustrations Don’t Forget the Best There is an ancient Scottish legend that tells the story of a shepherd boy tending a few straggling sheep on the side of a mountain. One day as he cared for his sheep he saw at his feet a beautiful flower -- one that was more beautiful than any he had ever seen in his life. He knelt down upon his knees and scooped the flower in his hands and held it close to his eyes, drinking in its beauty. As he held the flower close to his face, suddenly he heard a noise and looked up before him. There he saw a great stone mountain opening up right before his eyes. And as the sun began to shine on the inside of the mountain, he saw the sprinkling of the beautiful gems and precious metals that it contained. With the flower in his hands, he walked inside. Laying the flower down, he began to gather all the gold and silver and precious gems in his arms. Finally with all that his arms could carry, he turned and began to walk out of that great cavern, and suddenly a voice said to him, "Don't forget the best." Thinking that perhaps he had overlooked some choice piece of treasure, he turned around again and picked up additional pieces of priceless treasure. And with his arms literally overflowing with wealth, he turned to walk back out of the great mountainous vault. And again the voice said, "Don't forget the best." But by this time his arms were filled and he walked on outside, and all of a sudden, the precious metals and stones turned to dust. And he looked around in time to see the great stone mountain closing its doors again. A third time he heard the voice, and this time the voice said, "You forgot the best. For the beautiful flower is the key to the vault of the mountain." In our Scripture passage we have someone who also forgot the best. Her name was Martha. Adrian Dieleman, Hosts and Guests _____________________________________________ Responding with Humor By the way, don't you think Luke also included this incident in his gospel account because he found it irresistible, or perhaps more accurately, because he found a touch of humor in it? There is humor here, isn't there? We smile at the story because we see ourselves in it, or we detect someone we know who is similar to Martha. Sometimes our priorities, or frustrations, are so far off the beam that they are laughable. And along with this was Martha's own lack of humor, which might have finally saved her. "The Lord's coming to my house? You mean he did accept my reckless invitation?" Martha might have asked. "Well, then, he's going to have to settle for potluck!" Such an attitude could have made Martha a relaxed, delightful hostess. A friend of mine likes to tell stories about how his teenage children would call him at home on the telephone on Friday nights after the high school basketball games. It was usually about 10 o'clock and they wanted to know whether they could bring a few friends over for a little get together. When the parents asked how many friends were coming, they were usually told, "Oh, about seventeen." Instead of slamming down the phone, the guy said he always smiled at his wife, and the two of them hightailed it over to the supermarket to get enough supplies to feed and water down the two dozen teenagers who showed up. The slight ridiculousness of the situation and the parents' humorous response to it preserved a loving relationship between them and their children. Richard W. Patt, All Stirred Up, CSS Publishing Company, Inc. The Highest Priority Have you ever been in a hurry and buttoned up a long overcoat with lots of buttons and when you were done, found out that the coat was uneven? What went wrong? I'll tell you what went wrong. When you don't get the first button in the right hole, all the rest are out of sequence too, right?! That's a parable about life. Jesus said it this way in the Sermon on the Mount: "Seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well." (Matthew 6:33) If the Lord is not the high priority in your life, then, like the overcoat, so many other things in life will be out of whack as well. Arthur E. Dean Windhorn Tell Me About The Spitfires! During World War II the Royal Air Force flew Danny's favorite plane of all time: the Spitfire. Watching those things fly all over the RKO newsreels the young boy came to believe they were dauntless. If a pilot flew a Spitfire, Danny thought, he would always hit his target, and he would always return home. One day the British Consul from Minneapolis came to Danny's town to visit. Danny's dad was chairman of the County War Bond drive so that gave him the honor of entertaining the British Consul in his home. His mother, Suzanne, went crazy with preparations. She brought in all her friends; she hired a German woman to clean the house; she went downtown to buy a new dress. The day the Consul arrived 40 people crammed into three rooms to welcome this man. Each one of those people couldn't wait to tell this tall, thin diplomat from England about the town, about how patriotic it was, about how he or she had a great-aunt in London, about how well the war was going. They all had plenty to say. Suzanne was running around fractiously trying to serve everybody and greet everybody, and make sure everybody had a place to sit, and did they want more of this -- in general, were they having a good time. Finally the British Consul sat down. For a split second he was actually by himself. The hostess had left to get him a drink; all the other guests momentarily turned away. Danny saw his chance. He ran to him. Even though the Consul was sitting, the boy still had to stand to whisper into his ear: "Tell me about Spitfires!" The tall man looked at the eight-year-old. He smiled, he relaxed, and he said, "Spitfires? I'll tell you a story about Spitfires. I flew one early in the war. It was splendid. I shot down a Messerschmidt and I came home alive. The next time I wasn't so lucky. That's why I'm not flying anymore. What is your name? I'll send you some pictures of Spitfires." About a month later a letter came from Minneapolis. Inside was a folder about Spitfires and a note from the Consul: "Dear Danny. I enjoyed talking with you. Good luck." He signed his name. Danny was the only person who didn't barrage the Consul's ears with information about the town and American patriotism. This small boy was the only one who said, "Tell me about Spitfires." He was the only one who actually listened to him -- even if it was just for a few minutes! In today's gospel lesson Jesus needs somebody to listen. He has just begun his journey to Jerusalem where he knows he will travel the bitter road of the cross and he will experience the loneliness of being denied, abandoned, and betrayed by his disciples. Martha may think her tasks have a high level of importance and at another time she would be right but not now. Now, it is time to sit and listen. John G. Lynch, Troubled Journey, The Better Part, CSS Publishing Company. _________________________________________ Sermon Opener – Mary, Martha, and the Martha Stewart Church – Luke 10:38-42 In today’s gospel text Martha, the mistress of the house, rushes around trying to make sure everything is perfect. Martha is like some first century Martha Stewart. She is focused on the food, the house, the drink. Martha seems to be doing for others. At first reading Martha is just being a conscientious hostess. But a deeper reading of the story reveals Martha is really only concerned with herself. How does HER house look? How does HER food taste? How are HER wines being served? Martha is so busy “serving” she completely forgets whom she truly serves… ___________________ Humor: When to Worry Now, I'm your pastor and I am going to give you permission to worry. But, you can only worry if one of these 7 things happens to you: Your birthday cake collapses from the weight of the candles. You turn on the news and they're showing emergency routes out of the city. Your twin sister forgot your birthday. Your car horn goes off accidentally and remains stuck as you follow a group of Hell's Angels on the freeway. The bird singing outside your window is a buzzard. Your income tax check bounces. Your wife says, "Good morning, Bill", and your name is George. Other than that you don't have anything to worry about. Unknown Lord of All Pots and Pans I have only the initials (M.K.H., quoted in the Salvation Army magazine) of the person who wrote this verse, but I suspect that a lot of other initials could be added to it in spirit: Lord of all pots and pans, since I’ve no time to be A saint by doing lovely things, or watching late with Thee Or dreaming in dawnlight, or storming heaven's gates Make me a saint by getting meals and washing up the plates. Carveth Mitchell, The Sign in the Subway, CSS Publishing Company. My Back Yard True happiness is not achieved it is received as in the case of two brothers Rich and Mike, who are complete opposites. Mike is a successful businessman. Rich, on the other hand, takes seasonal jobs at dude ranches, parks and resorts. Mike is always concerned for Rich’s welfare and tries to entice him with the "good life." He sends Rich photos labeled with messages like "My new sound system" or "My new car." But one day the campaign ended when Mike received a poster from his brother showing a breathtaking view of Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. On the back was a message from Rich: "My back yard." Unknown The Dangerous Attitude of Narrowness Some years ago in another church a party was given to recognize a married couple for their outstanding work in the church’s youth program. Let me tell you about this couple. I will call them Betty and Bill. They had very different personalities. Betty was vivacious, out-going, gregarious, affectionate... a hugger. If you gave her a “bow ribbon,” she would jump up and down and squeal with delight and then run around and hug and kiss everybody in the room. Bill, on the other hand, was the opposite. He was quiet, reserved, shy, stable, balanced. If you gave him a Mercedes and a trip to Hawaii, all he could do is say a quiet and sincere “Thank you.” Now, on this particular night Betty and Bill were given a surprise party. The young people jumped out from their hiding places, shouted “Surprise!” and then gave Betty and Bill a present. It was a beautiful plaque. Do you know what Betty did? She read the plaque out loud. She squealed with delight. She cried. She jumped up and down and then ran around the room hugging and kissing everybody in sight. Meanwhile, Bill waited… and when she was through he said quietly: “I want to thank you also!” But that is not the end of the story. Betty turned on Bill. She got mad at him… and she made a scene: “Look at you Bill. You don’t appreciate anything. If you did, you would act like it. You would do like I do!” But, you see Bill can’t act that way. He just isn’t made that way. He is not wired up like Betty is. He can’t act like her, can’t respond that way. If he did, it would be fake, artificial, embarrassing. You want to say: “Betty, Betty, leave him alone. Don’t force your way on him. Let him do it his way. Let him be Bill!” Now, I have to tell you hugs and kisses are great, but I also know that Bill’s quiet “thank you” is just as real, just as genuine, just as valid. In this episode with Mary and Martha, Jesus is saying, beware of the dangerous attitude of narrowness. It can devastate your soul. James W. Moore, Encounters with Christ

Definition of Neighbor

Luke 10:25-37 Definition of Neighbor 5th Sunday After Pentecost Year C Opening Song Welcome Gathering Words (Luke 10) What must we do to inherit eternal life? What is written in the Scriptures? What do they tell us? You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. That is the right answer; it is the key to life. But do you understand it? We are not sure. Just who is our neighbor? Open your eyes and see. Your neighbor is next to you. Your neighbors surround you! Lord, we have been so blind. Have mercy on us! The Lord is gracious and merciful; show this same mercy to all. (United Methodist Ministry Matters – Bill Hoppe) Invocation Divine Builder, you set our standards and foundation. Make your presence known to us as we gather before you. Let this community reflect your body and your vision. Fortify us with all truth and strengthen us with your abundant love. Enliven our senses and stir our being as we worship you as the people you have crafted to build alongside you. Amen. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways – Rev. Dr. Cheryl Lindsay) Song The Summons TFWS 2130 Scripture - Luke 10:25-37 Sermon – The Definition of Neighbor I think that we have been asking the pharisee’s question for years now – who is my neighbor? Who is it that I have to care about, listen to, be concerned about. Where can I set my boundaries around who to include in my every day life? Who do I need to understand, and how far do I have to go in caring for other people? We have been focused on the text of Luke for a few weeks now in our sermons. Every since chapter 8 or 9 when Jesus decides that his mission is to go to Jerusalem. When he leaves the countryside, the first place that he ends up is in Samaria. Samaritans and Jews don’t like each other, and he is not well received, and yet Jesus tells the disciples that they are still a part of his mission of reconciliation. They are still children of God. The theme of chapters 8-10 can be summarized in one word – hospitality. You extended hospitality to your neighbors. Hospitality was life. When someone was traveling, you gave them a place to stay. You fed them, you gave them a bed to sleep in. And because you also protected them from danger, it was the man of the house who extended the hospitality. A lot has changed in the giving of hospitality and a lot has not. Now that I have been here for awhile, I have been venturing to do new things. I always find it interesting that as I visit new places in town, the first thing people ask me is – are you from Wilmington. When I say yes, they respond o then we are very glad to have you with us. I keep reminding myself that the next time I am asked that question, to resist the urge to fit in, and say no. And see what difference it makes. It is okay, it is a part of our survival to ask who is my neighbor. Neighbors is an important part of our faith. Someone asked a man if he was a good Christian, he said I don’t know, you have to ask my neighbor. Jesus talks about neighbors in all four of the gospels. Luke takes the concept one step further, to include the Samaritans. In our modern world, the Samaritan has taken on quite a role – there are hospitals called the Good Samaritan, there are social service organizations – there is even the good Samaritan laws. And yet in this story, the Samaritan is anything but good. In this scripture, the pharisee is asking questions to taunt Jesus. And Jesus is taunting him back. Aware of the intense feelings about Samaritans, Jesus tells this story and asks who was the true neighbor, hence the true child of God. When the pharisee acknowledges the actions of the Samaritan as being right, he does not even say the word. He calls the Samaritan the one who did right. It was actually the religious people who were good – too good to help out. At one point or another we have all been each person in this story, the religious folk who couldn’t get involved, the Samaritan who stopped to help and even the man in need, stripped of his humanity and in need of help. Grace Is What Lifts Us Jesus is saying not only that when it comes right down to it, everyone in the whole world is your neighbor. He is saying that, too. But if, as Eugene Peterson says, parables are narrative time bombs designed to explode people into new awareness, then in this case one of the pieces of shrapnel is designed to tear into the idea that the law will ever save anybody. Jesus is exposing the futility of the law as a way to inherit eternal life. After all, the Samaritan who finally reached out did so not as a result of law but of grace. The finer points of the law left the man half-dead in the ditch. It leaves us all there. Grace is what lifts the man out. Grace it what lifts all of us out. If God had not been gracious with us, we'd all still be dead. Scott Hoezee, Comments and Observations God’s grace is the real hero of the story, not the Samaritan. Grace was present with the religious folk who went on about their business, grace was present with the Samaritan who helped, with the man restored to health. Grace is with each of us as we live out our faith, as we work to expand our definition of neighbor, as we strive the see the humanity in all people. God works with us, as we work with God. Love for the Enemy The love for equals is a human thing--of friend for friend, brother for brother. It is to love what is loving and lovely. The world smiles. The love for the less fortunate is a beautiful thing--the love for those who suffer, for those who are poor, the sick, the failures, the unlovely. This is compassion, and it touches the heart of the world. The love for the more fortunate is a rare thing--to love those who succeed where we fail, to rejoice without envy with those who rejoice, the love of the poor for the rich, of the black man for the white man. The world is always bewildered by its saints. And then there is the love for the enemy--love for the one who does not love you but mocks, threatens, and inflicts pain. The tortured's love for the torturer. This is God's love. It conquers the world. Frederick Buechner in his book: The Magnificent Defeat. he Nearest Willing Hand Two women were sitting in church. One woman said to the other, "I’ve always wished that God would touch me, but I suppose that’s too much to ask." The other woman replied, "That sounds like a reasonable desire. Have you prayed about it?" "Well, no. Of course not." "Why not? There’s certainly nothing wrong with a prayer like that. You should pray about it." "All right. Maybe I will sometime." "Not sometime. Now. What better place to pray than here in the Lord’s house?" Thus persuaded, the woman reluctantly folded her hands, bowed her head and closed her eyes in prayer, asking that God would touch her. About ten seconds later the other woman gently laid her hand on the folded hands of the friend at prayer. She responded as most of us would do. She jumped and said, "He did it! He touched me." Then, after a moment’s thought "But that felt an awful lot like your hand." "It was my hand," her friend replied. Disappointment was on the other face. "And I thought God had touched me." "He did touch you. How do you think God touches people? That he comes down like a fog blanket or a pillar of fire? When God touches people he takes the nearest hand and uses that." That sounds good, doesn’t it? And it’s almost right. Almost, but not quite. She left out one word. When God touches people he takes the nearest WILLING hand and uses that. The Gospel for today is a case in point. Carveth Mitchell, The Sign in the Subway, CSS Publishing Company. God’s grace is at work in each of us and in our situation, are we willing for God’s grace to flow throw our lives? I have one more story, that I think hits home for us in what it means to be the children of God on our every day lives. Setting the Tone for the Day A few years ago, a radio station ran a contest. Disc jockeys invited their listeners to tune in their clock radios. "Just for fun," they said, "when you wake up to the sound of FM-106, call and tell us the first words you spoke when you rolled out of bed. If you're the third caller, you'll win $106." It didn't take long for the contest to grow in enthusiasm. The first morning, a buoyant disc jockey said, "Caller number three, what did you say when you rolled out of bed this morning?" A groggy voice said, "Do I smell coffee burning?" Another day, a sleepy clerical worker said, "Oh no, I'm late for work." Somebody else said her first words were, "Honey, did I put out the dog last night?" A muffled curse was immediately heard in the background, and then a man was heard to say, "No, you didn't." It was a funny contest and drew a considerable audience. One morning, however, the third caller said something unusual. The station phone rang. "Good morning, this is FM-106. You're on the air. What did you say when you rolled out of bed this morning?" A voice with a Bronx accent replied, "You want to know my first words in the morning?" The bubbly DJ said, "Yes, sir! Tell us what you said." The Bronx voice responded, "Shema, Israel ... Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." There was a moment of embarrassed silence. Then the radio announcer said, "Sorry, wrong number," and cut to a commercial. Try to remember. What did you say when you rolled out of bed today? Chances are, those words set the tone for the rest of the day. For the pious Jew the first words of each morning are always the same, and they were the words spoken that morning on FM-106. They were first spoken by Moses, who said, "Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Teach them to your children and talk about them when you lie down and when you rise" (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). William G. Carter, No Box Seats in the Kingdom, CSS Publishing Peace, Song There’s a Spirit in the Air UMH 192 Pastoral Prayer Lord’s Prayer UMH 894 Children’s Sermon • In today’s scripture story, Jesus tells a story that we call “The Good Samaritan.” And what I’m going to do is retell it to you with these 3 apples and this 1 orange, ok? • One day, an apple [hold up one apple] was walking along the road and was robbed – meaning, the apple had its stuff taken from him. • The apple was also badly hurt while being robbed. In fact, the apple was so hurt that it couldn’t walk [put apple on ground and tip it over]. The apple could only lay there and hope that some other good apple would come along and help it. • And guess what? Another apple DID happen by [hold up another apple]. But that apple saw the hurt apple and thought, “It’s a trap!” • So, the healthy apple turned around and ran away – without helping. • So the hurt apple just laid there for awhile longer until… • …another healthy apple showed up [hold up another apple]. • And the hurt apple said, “Please help me. I’m hurt.” • But the healthy apple said, “All these bad apples keep getting hurt. If I help you, then I’ll have to help all of you.” • So the healthy apple just WALKED past! Can you imagine? The healthy apple didn’t even stop. • So now the hurt apple was really scared and sad. It looked like no one was going to help the hurt apple. • But then, an orange walked by [hold up the orange]. • Now, you may not know this, but apples and oranges don’t like each other. That’s why there’s no such thing as apple-orange juice. Or orange-apple pie. Or an “Or-pple” Starburst candy. • Anyways, the hurt apple thought there was no way an orange would ever help. • But then something very surprising happened: The orange stopped and took very good care of the hurt apple! The orange helped the hurt apple get better! • [Put the hurt apple back upright, again – then put all fruit in a bag so that the kids don’t get distracted] From Four.org Stewardship Moment Many of us might someday have the opportunity to inherit or to provide an inheritance. I’m not here to suggest how you might use such an inheritance, or to whom you should provide one. Instead, I’m here to point out the question of a lawyer who asked Jesus, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus’ response came in story form, which we know as “the Good Samaritan”. Jesus teaches about life stewardship. The traveller responded with acts of love for a stranger, providing care for the victim. How are we to live? We, too, know the greatest commandment: “love the Lord our God, and love our neighbor as we love ourselves.” Today, you have opportunity to demonstrate your love and share some of the inheritance we have all received from our Creator. How will we do that? I want to challenge each of us to consider how we steward the resources for which we are responsible. What financial support, what time, what shared talents might we give in response to hearing the story of the Good Samaritan? What might you provide today as a part of your inheritance offered to neighbors in need? Prayer of Thanksgiving Loving God, thank you for stories which continue to inspire and challenge us. Thank you for the ways Jesus still teaches us today to be ever-stronger followers of the Way of Love. Receive these gifts and help us use them to lift up neighbors in need. Accept our desire to share the inheritance you provide for us, and continue to call us out to act on that desire. AMEN (From Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Place your hand in the hand of God. Go forth into this world in complete assurance of God’s presence and love. Bring hope, healing, and peace to all whom you meet. Go in peace and may God’s peace be with you. AMEN. (United Methodist Ministry Matters – Nancy Townley) Community Time Benediction Place your hand in the hand of God. Go forth into this world in complete assurance of God’s presence and love. Bring hope, healing, and peace to all whom you meet. Go in peace and may God’s peace be with you. AMEN. ( United Methodist Ministry Matters – Nancy Townley) Additional Illustrations Rising to the Occasion Have you heard the story about the elderly woman who lived in a small town in East Texas... who had car trouble on the way to the supermarket one morning? Her car stalled at a stop sign... she tried everything to get her car started again, but no luck. Suddenly, a man in a pick-up truck came up behind her and with obvious agitation he started honking his horn at her impatiently. She doubled her efforts to get her car going. She pumped the gas, turned the ignition, but still no luck... the man in the pick-up truck continued to honk his horn constantly and loudly. I love what the elderly woman did. Very calmly she got out of her car, walked back to the pick-up and motioned for the man to lower his window and then politely she said: "I'll make a deal with you. If you will start my car for me I'll be happy to honk your horn for you!" Now, that is what you call "Rising to the occasion!" and that is precisely what Jesus does here in Luke 10. The lawyer was "testing" Jesus... honking his horn loudly. He was trying to trap Jesus and trip Him up with a loaded question... but Jesus (as He so often did) rose to the occasion and passed the test with flying colors... and in so doing... He reminded the people back then (and us today) of what is the main thing in the Christian faith. James W. Moore, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com For His Neighbors Many of us are afraid of dogs. It is a common fear. The immortal scientist Louis Pasteur was far more frightened of dogs than most people. Even a distant bark would terrify him. In his mind he could still see a mad wolf which raged through his boyhood village bringing agony and death to many of his neighbors. "I have always been haunted by the cries of those victims," he said time and again. Yet in 1882, past the age of 60, Pasteur gave up all his other studies in an intense search for a cure for rabies. For three long years, in spite of his deep seated fears, he risked his life living with mad dogs. At last he came through with a vaccine to cure the victims of rabies. On a July night in 1885 he tried the first injection on a little boy whose life seemed doomed. The boy lived. The remembered agony of his neighbors spurred Louis Pasteur to find a cure for this dread disease. King Duncan, www.Sermons.com Love for the Enemy The love for equals is a human thing--of friend for friend, brother for brother. It is to love what is loving and lovely. The world smiles. The love for the less fortunate is a beautiful thing--the love for those who suffer, for those who are poor, the sick, the failures, the unlovely. This is compassion, and it touches the heart of the world. The love for the more fortunate is a rare thing--to love those who succeed where we fail, to rejoice without envy with those who rejoice, the love of the poor for the rich, of the black man for the white man. The world is always bewildered by its saints. And then there is the love for the enemy--love for the one who does not love you but mocks, threatens, and inflicts pain. The tortured's love for the torturer. This is God's love. It conquers the world. Frederick Buechner in his book: The Magnificent Defeat. Sermon Opener - Won't You Be My Neighbor? - Luke 10:25-37 “Mister Rogers,” anyone? With his zippered cardigans, canvas sneakers, and handmade puppets (before there were cool “Muppets”), “Mister Rogers” was a pioneer in the early days of educational television for young children. Fred Rogers, a Presbyterian minister from Pittsburgh, started developing the characters and themes of his program in the mid-1950’s. But it wasn’t until 1967 that “Mister Roger’s Neighborhood” took its final form and appeared on PBS stations across the country. This sweet, sappy, smart program stayed in production until 2001, and remained on all PBS stations until 2008. It is probably safe to say that there are very few of you listening today who couldn’t sing along with the song that opened every new show — “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood…” [If you can get your choir to sing this with you, as you lead the congregation in a short refrain, all the better]. As he finished tying his sneakers and zipping his cardigan, Fred Rogers would sing, “Won’t you be…Won’t you be… Won’t you be my neighbor?” The concept of “neighborliness” has changed over the years. It used to be your “neighbor” was a geographic designation. In early American rural communities your nearest “neighbor” might be miles away. But those neighbors would still gather together for barn-raisings, quilting bees, and harvest times. In the urban environments, “neighborhoods” were composed of thousands of residents. But these “hoods” were drawn together and defined along ethnic lines — “Little Italy,” “Chinatown,” “the Borscht Belt.” You might never meet your “neighbors,” but your common ethnic identities helped create a communal, comforting environment. In the aftermath of the “baby boom” the suburbs were born. “Neighbors” became the people just over the fence, those circling station wagons in the same cul-de-sac. But often times these suburban “neighbors” were unknown and unconnected. Physical closeness led to the erection of psychological and emotional barriers, with no front porches, only back patios and private decks. “Pre-fabricated” neighborhoods could be very lonely places. In today’s gospel text Jesus is confronted by a legal expert, sent specifically to “test” him on the orthodoxy of his views… ___________________ By loving the unlovable, You made me lovable. Augustine to God Easy to Rationalize I ran across a subtle piece of humor. Cal Holm tells about two liberal sociologists walking down the street. They see a man lying at the curb who is covered with cuts and bruises from a terrible mugging. Cal says one of the sociologists turns to his colleague and says, "Whoever did this terrible deed really needs our help." It is so easy to rationalize, to justify, to find excuses for passing by on the other side. Undoubtedly the priest and the Levite had reasons for passing this man by. Self-giving love is so rare in this world. King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com The Good Samaritan's Name Jean Frederick Oberlin, a minister in 18th century Germany, was traveling by foot in winter when he was caught in a severe snowstorm. He soon lost his way in the blowing snow and feared he would freeze to death. In despair he sat down, not knowing which way to turn. Just then, a man came along in a wagon and rescued Oberlin. He took him to the next village and made sure he would be cared for. As the man prepared to journey on, Oberlin said, "Tell me your name so that I may at least have you in grateful remembrance before God." The man, who by now had recognized Oberlin, replied, "You are a minister. Please tell me the name of the Good Samaritan." Oberlin said, "I cannot do that, for it is not given in the Scriptures." His benefactor responded, "Until you can tell me his name, please permit me to withhold mine." Source Unknown, ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc.

Hospitality

4th Sunday After Pentecost Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 Hospitality Year C Opening Song Welcome (Personal note to self – mention communion and financial report) Call to Worship L: Praise be to God who has freed us from oppression! P: Praise be to God who has healed our wounded souls! L: Let our hearts rejoice at God’s redeeming love. P: Let our voices raise in songs of thanksgiving for all that God is doing for us. L: Come, let us worship the Lord with our whole hearts! P: May our praise and voices resound with joy! AMEN. (Nancy Townley for United Methodist Ministry Matters) Opening Prayer: Gracious God, mend our brokenness and our sadness. Give us spirits of joy and enthusiasm for service to you by serving others. Lift us and place us on your pathways of peace and hope, that with our lives we will witness to your redeeming love. AMEN. (Nancy Townley for United Methodist Ministry Matters) Song – America the Beautiful UMH 696 Passing the Peace of Christ (Luke 10) Jesus sent forth his disciples with a word of peace. We too are bearers of that peace as we greet others in Christ’s name. Please greet your neighbors with the blessing: “The peace of Christ be with you.” (Hans Holznagel – United Methodist Ministry Matters) Scripture Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 Sermon - Hospitality "Under God" and the Pledge of Allegiance The words "under God were taken from Abraham Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address, "…that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth…" and were added to the Pledge of Allegiance on June 14, 1954 by a joint resolution of Congress, 243 (Public Law 83-396). (The Pledge was initially adopted by the 79th Congress on December 28, 1945, as Public Law 287.) On June 14, 1954, President Eisenhower signed into law the pledge: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which is stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." President Eisenhower gave his support to the Congressional Act, which added the phrase, "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance, saying: "In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country’s most powerful resource in peace and war." President Eisenhower then stood on the steps of the Capitol Building and recited the Pledge of Allegiance for the first time with the phrase, "one nation under God." French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831, said, "I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests--and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning--and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution--and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!" Alexis de Tocqueville - He was a political scientist, historian, and politician, best-known for "Democracy in America," 4 vol. (1835–40), a perceptive analysis of the political and social system of the United States in the early 19th century. Today, we honor America as a great nation, but we also have to acknowledge that America is a divided nation. It seems that daily, there is an issue that comes forth. And there are varying ways of looking at the issue. And there will never be agreement about the right side of the issue will be. And yet the pledge reminds us that we are one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Our unity is in Christ. So, since on July 4th we celebrate our nation, it is good that on July 3rd – we spend time in church being reminded of the source of our strength- to be in mission with Christ. Our scripture for today comes from Luke. In this story – Jesus is on a mission to unite his nation, and to help people realize the love of God. In order to do that, he realizes that he must get to Jerusalem. But he also realizes that he cant do it alone. By this time he has already recruited 12 disciples, but there are so many people who need to hear the good news. This story is only told in Luke – but he also recruits 70 or some say 72 more deacons to do the work that must be done. Jesus does what Moses did centuries before. When Moses realized that he couldn’t do the work of God by himself, God told him to find 70 men and to commission them for service. The number 70 is significant – it represents completeness, it represents all of the nations of the world. But the number is not all that important, what is important is what Jesus wanted these people to do. He wanted them to spread the love of God, bring peace to the community, accept and give hospitality. As love and peace spread, the mission expands. They are sent our 2 by 2. They return to Jesus to tell him that there were some who listened and some who didn’t. But when they gave peace, it truly made a difference to their faith. During this commissioning service – Jesus hits upon one of our major complaints of the church. The harvest is plenty, the laborers are few. Since its beginning, the church has been one generation from disappearing. We are always complaining that there is not enough of us to do the work, but we forget that Jesus says that there are plenty of people out there who want to come to church if they just knew about it and felt welcome. When I hear this story, I wonder – where did Jesus find 70 people. There are only ---- here today – how do we get to 70? Where did Jesus find 70? The first thing that Jesus says during the commissioning service – appeal to God for the resources that you need. Prayer is the first step in the mission. I will start my illustration of this point with a childhood memory of my own. When I got old enough to use the phone and communicate on my own – my mother would always insist that I call or visit my older relatives. Today I cherish those moments with the older generation before they passed away. But at nine years old – keeping in touch with older relatives was just a chore. As a kid Elizabeth was required to visit a great-great aunt who lived nearby, every Sunday evening. The Rennies would take her a plate of cookies or some other treat. In return Auntie would always exclaim, “Oh, aren’t you just an answer to prayer.” My wife says she didn’t feel like an answer to any prayer. She felt like an impatient kid, still sweaty from playing ball in the yard, and wanting to get back to it as soon as possible. But for her shut-in, ninety year old Auntie, Elizabeth was, in all her imperfection, an answer to prayer. “I now know that her prayer was not for cookies. Her prayer was for family, for fellowship, for the touch of love and compassion to come into her life.” All of us in attendance here today are an answer to an ancient prayer. That prayer is two thousand years old. It was a prayer uttered and answered in today’s gospel lesson. In that ancient prayer Jesus prayed that his Father would send him workers to “help bring in the harvest:” The harvest is plentiful, but he laborers are few, therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest (Luke 10:2) The fact that we are all here today is God’s answer to that prayer Jesus prayed. Do you get it? You are an answer to a Jesus prayer. Our presence is an answer to his prayer. Each of us is this generation’s sent “seventy.” Each of us that the Father has “sent” has been given special powers and projects. But our individual gifts are not the answer to prayer. The gift of building or baking, the gift of music or management, the gift of humor or horticulture, those are not answers to prayer. YOU are the answer. Your presence, your response to the call for “laborers” for the harvest, is the answer. All those who “labor” are, with every word and action, announcing that “the kingdom of God has come near.” That is why whether the prayer is for more rain in a drought-stricken plain, or drying sunshine for a flooded community - we are the answer to prayer. That is why whether the answer to prayer is for a cooling breeze during a scorching heat wave or for a warm shelter on a frozen winter night - we are the answer to prayer. That is why whether the answer to prayer is the community of companionship or for the silence of solitude - we are the answer to prayer. That is why whether the prayer is for a breath of fresh air or for the peace of stillness - we are the answer to prayer. That is why whether the answer to prayer is a purpose and a project or for the fullness of fallow time - we are the answer to prayer. We can always be “the answer to prayer” as long as we realize the real “prayer” we are answering is Jesus’ call for “laborers to bring in the harvest.” We are answers to prayer whenever we are working to reveal to the world that “the kingdom of God has come close.” We are not called to “build” the kingdom of God. As laborers enter the field to gather the crop, we are called to enter into the kingdom that is already here, to receive that kingdom, and to reveal its presence to others. And what is the kingdom? The kingdom is Jesus the Christ. That is the good news for us – all of us sitting here together today are an answer to prayer of those before us. Someone prayed for our church, for our mission, for our faith. And it was God who answered the call to send laborers. It is important for us to keep praying, keep pleading, so that God will provide in the future. We have to keep trusting on God to provide, keep going out, keep spreading peace. Every new day brings a new challenge, but it also brings a new opportunity to spread God’s love. The scripture is called the commissioning of the 70. Commission means to prepare for service, to give a job, to go on a mission. Com – means together and mission means work. Literally Jesus co missioned us. As Jesus set upon his mission, he invited us to work and walk with him. Not so much to go to Jerusalem, but to work and spread peace in our own community. God loves everybody – but there are only --- of us here? Where is everyone else? There are a lot of people in other churches today – but there are a whole lot more in bed, watching tv or doing some other mindless task this morning. They need to know about God’s salvation. Some will listen if we talk to them, others we have to listen to them, or sing a song, or feed them, or teach them a lesson, or bake them a cake, or show that we care. We have to do something to speak to their heart. We have to let them know that God loves them and that there is a place for them to use their gifts here. If we use our gifts, then God will do the rest. The mission of the church is God’s mission, not ours, we are just commissioners. We are commissioners with a lot of power. Jesus said that he saw the devil falling out of heaven because of the work of the 70. He said that we have the power to step on snakes and scorpions for the sake of the mission. We have the power to change the world, to spread peace, and to create a great nation. How will we use that power today? Song – America UMH 697 Prayer for the 4th of July God of all tribes and every nation, on this day of cookouts and fireworks, parades and pool parties, we pause to remember the best of our nation’s aspirations and values .We give thanks for those who made great sacrifices for the sake of the principles of equality and liberty, life and the pursuit of happiness. We lament the many ways and countless times that we have fallen short of the hopes of not only the founders of this nation, but of you, Lord of all. Forgive us for not fulfilling the great aims this country sought to represent to the world. Send your Spirit to help us become the country you call us to be. When we rest and play, eat and celebrate today, do not let us forget those unable to do likewise. Inspire in us a zeal for the equality in which you create all people, a passion to seek abundant life for all people, a relentless drive to provide liberty for all people, and a pursuit of happiness, not only for ourselves and those like us, but for all people. May our country truly be a refuge for the tired, the poor, and those yearning to be free — free from fear, free from poverty, free from oppression, free from exploitation, free from violence, free from war, free from suffering and hopelessness. May our nation truly be a place of justice, tranquility and welfare for all people. Amen. (Jill Duffield – Presbyterian Pastor) Children’s Sermon (Do not print)Hello, children of God! Happy Fourth of July!!! It’s Independence Day! What does that mean, do you think? What are we celebrating on this holiday, anyway? (Allow for responses) Well, when we honor the independence we have as a nation, we usually talk about how awesome it is that America is its own country, not ruled by another country. We have freedom in the United States to make choices. We can choose how we worship, where we attend church, where we go to school, what we want to wear…we have rights to live as free people. Well, what do you think it means to have freedom in Christ? There are a couple of very important things that we celebrate when we discuss our freedom as Christians: For one thing, God gives us choices. He loves us and He wants us to love Him, but He doesn’t force it. He gives us the free will to obey or disobey Him. Yet, it really makes a lot more sense to choose to put our trust in Him, because in Him we have freedom from sin! When we do things that our wrong, it sort of tangles up our lives. God offers to set us free from that, and give us joy instead. You see, Jesus wants to help us and make our lives better. He promises to give us rest and peace, if we will allow Him to. Have you ever carried a backpack? Maybe you have one like this (hold up bag or backpack, if using) for school. This one is pretty heavy. It can be quite tiring to carry this around all day. Now, let’s say I had a teacher who offered to carry it for me. If my teacher gave me the choice of hauling the big backpack, or letting someone else do it, wouldn’t it make sense to choose the lighter load? Why would I insist on doing it all myself, if someone was willing to help? Well, that’s what Jesus does for us. He offers to carry our burdens. We can get tired out because we worry, and we think that we need to do things all on our own. We try to carry our own struggles, or we think that we somehow need to earn our salvation from God. But Jesus gives it freely. There’s nothing we have to do, except trust Him and willingly let go of our cares. He won’t make us do it. We are free to continue carrying the weight of our guilt and sin and shame, to feel fatigued by our stresses. That doesn’t sound like a great way to live, does it? Isn’t it a blessing that we can let Jesus take care of things and bear our burdens for us? He promises rest, and gives us free lives, now and forever. That’s even better than fireworks! Why don’t we say a prayer of thanks to God, and let Him know that we trust Him to carry our burdens? Children’s Prayer Moment Dear God, Thank you for giving us freedom from sin Thank you for carrying our burdens and giving us life Help us to trust you and cast our cares on you Remind us what it means to be free in Christ Thank you for your love We love you, God! In Jesus name, Amen! (By Kristin Shmidt) Stewardship Moment All you need to print is the Prayer of Thanksgiving Moment for Stewardship (inspired by Galatians 6) As we in the northern hemisphere move into full summer, we recognize the growing crops in farm fields and home gardens. Paul’s words echo: “you reap whatever you sow”. We cannot sow corn and expect to reap beans. We cannot sow stinginess and expect to reap generosity. Rather, when we sow generously with our tithes and offerings, we can expect to reap generosity at harvest time! Do you know the story of Hattie May Wiatt? In 1886 she lived near a church in Philadelphia where the Sunday School was very crowded. Despite wanting to attend, she could not find a seat. When the minister saw her, he assured her one day they would have buildings big enough to allow every child to attend who wanted to come. Later, Hattie May Wiatt became sick and died. After the funeral, the girl’s mother told him Hattie May had been saving money to help build a bigger church. She gave him the little purse in which Hattie had saved 57 cents. That minister turned into gift into 57 pennies, told the congregation the story of Hattie May and sold the pennies for a return of about $250. Some of the members of the church formed the Wiatt Mite Society, dedicated to making Hattie May’s 57 cents grow as much as possible. A house nearby was purchased with the $250 that Hattie May’s 57 cents had produced and the rest is history. The first classes of Temple College, later Temple University, were held in that house. It was later sold to allow Temple College to move and the growth of Temple, along with the founding of the Good Samaritan Hospital (Now the Temple University Hospital) have been powerful testimonies to Hattie May Wiatt’s dream. (https://www.truthorfiction.com/hattiemaywiatt/) Eager to sow, and eager to reap, let us share our tithes, gifts and offerings. Prayer of Thanksgiving Generous God, thank you for all you provide for us day by day. Receive these gifts and help us transform them into opportunities for generosity as we share Good News here and beyond our congregation. Inspire us to sow well and eagerly anticipate all we will reap in the Life you offer us. AMEN Invitation to Communion (Do not Print) Many health-focused individuals seek ways to eat wisely. Perhaps you have experienced the positive change in your life when you were able to choose healthy food, good exercise and adequate rest, leading you to sense you had a whole new lease on life. Paul encouraged the believers in Galatia to recognize the power of a new creation which we experience when we focus on, and become avid followers of, Jesus Christ. He eagerly declares his intention to never boast of anything except the cross, by which the world was crucified to him, and he was crucified to the world. As we come to this Table, we find simple elements: a tiny piece of bread and a thimble-full of juice. Yet in these gifts, we find a whole new lease on life! We step into the new creation as we claim our identity as disciples (learners) of Jesus Christ. You are welcome at this Table. May sharing in this feast give you reason to boast: you are a disciple of Jesus! Come! Take your place, and receive the peace of Christ! Communion UMH 13 Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Do not grow weary in doing what is right, for you will reap a great harvest if you do not give up. Sow in the Spirit and reap the blessings of God. Go in peace. (Hans Holznagel for United Methodist Ministry Matters) Community Time Quarterly Financial Report Benediction Lord, as we go from this place, surround us with your peace and love, that we make take healing and hope to others in your holy name. AMEN. Nancy Townley for United Methodist Ministry Matters) Additional Illustrations Relationship Evangelism There is an old story told about a man by the name of Ali Facid. He had a small farm and a family. One day, the story goes, a Buddhist priest came by and said to Ali Facid: You know, there are valuable stones called diamonds, and if you get one of these you could be a wealthy man." Ali Facid went to bed that night, but the words of the old priest haunted him. He was so obsessed that he felt that he must find him one of these diamonds so that he could become a ruler. He sold his farm, put his family out to neighbors and went out to find his acres of diamonds. Months passed. He was broken in body and spirit. His funds were gone. And at the Bay of Barcelona, he threw himself into the water, never to walk this earth again. Meanwhile, the man who bought his farm bent over one day and picked up a little stone. He laid on the mantle that night not knowing what it was. A few days later the old Buddhist priest came by and saw it and exclaimed: Ali Facid must be back from his search. No, came the response. Then where did that diamond come from? The farmer replied: I was out plowing in the garden and found it there. And friends, did you know that from that very garden, for this is not a legend but a true story, came the jewels and diamonds that today adorn the crown heads of Europe and Russia. In Ali Facid's own back yard there were acres of diamonds and he knew it not. My friends, I know that the [your church's neighborhood] is not like [name two neighborhoods in your area that are experiencing growth] in terms of extensive growth. But, I also know that there are acres of diamonds right here in our own back yard. There are people right here in our area that do not have church families, who are not committed to Christ, and who are waiting to be asked. We don't have to look to other areas of the city. All we have to do is pick up the diamonds that are right beneath us. Staff, www.Sermons.com Evangelism An executive hirer, a "head-hunter" who goes out and hires corporation executives for other firms, once told me, "When I get an executive that I'm trying to hire for someone else, I like to disarm him. I offer him a drink, take my coat off, then my vest, undo my tie, throw up my feet and talk about baseball, football, family, whatever, until he's all relaxed. Then, when I think I've got him relaxed, I lean over, look him square in the eye and say, "What's your purpose in life?" It's amazing how top executives fall apart at that question. "Well, I was interviewing this fellow the other day, had him all disarmed, with my feet up on his desk, talking about football. Then I leaned up and said, 'What's your purpose in life, Bob?' And he said, without blinking an eye, 'To go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can.' For the first time in my career I was speechless." Josh McDowell Jesus and Moses Both Delegated Delegation is more difficult than it sounds. Delegation is especially difficult for talented and extraordinary leaders, and even more difficult for leaders who seem to have a special calling from God. That was the case with Moses some 13 centuries before Christ. After successfully leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt toward freedom in the Promised Land, Moses had problems with a somewhat rebellious and cantankerous group. So he complained to God, "I am not able to carry all these people alone, the burden is too heavy for me" (Numbers 11:14). In fact, Moses was so discouraged he asked God to kill him unless he helped him. So God asked Moses to gather 70 men whom he knew to be natural leaders and officers and to bring them to the tent of meeting, where God manifested his presence. God said, "I will come down and talk with you there; and I will take some of the spirit which is upon you and put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone" (Numbers 11:17). So God's spirit did come upon the 70 and Moses had people to whom he could delegate responsibility and leadership. Thirteen centuries later, Jesus uses the same number -- 70 -- to recruit men to help him spread the word about the new kingdom of God. If Moses and the 70 elders were developing the Old Israel, Jesus and the 70 were about to develop the New Israel. Maurice A. Fetty, The Divine Advocacy, CSS Publishing Company The Ignored Task of the Church: Evangelism "Evangelism" is a beautiful word that has lost its winsomeness [or effectiveness]. Somehow on its journey from the Jerusalem of yesterday to the Jericho of today it has fallen among thieves that have wounded it and stripped it, departed, leaving it half dead. It takes a rather rash Samaritan, therefore, to dare turn aside to set this poor chap upon his beast and take him to an inn and take care of him. This is especially true because a veritable procession of Priests and Levites are passing by, not only refusing to lend a hand, but, we fear, inwardly chuckling at the plight of the poor fellow, and secretly hoping that they are soon to see the last of him. Clovis G. Chappell, Evangelistic Sermons of Clovis G. Chappell, Abingdon 1973, p. 40. 400 Advisers I read the following in a church newsletter: A preacher in the Midwest tells of a woman who called him to speak of her dissatisfaction with the program of the Church. He invited her to come to his office and talk the problem over with him. She accepted the invitation and brought to his attention some of the things that were needed and could be done. He gratefully acknowledged the wisdom of her ideas. He then said, "This is wonderful that you are so concerned and interested in this. You are the very person this Church needs to head up this program. Will you take the job?" Her reply was just as immediate. "Oh, no, I don't want to get involved. With my club work and the hours that I put on some other things, I just don't have the time. But I will be glad to advise you any time." The preacher's answer was classic and well put: "Good, gracious, lady, that's the problem now. I already have 400 advisers. I need someone who will work." Almost everyone in a congregation says that they want it to grow. (Some put a limit on the growth, "I'd like to see us have about 500 members and then stop.") If people want growth, if God promises a good harvest, why aren't more congregations growing? What is stopping the growth God wants to give? Brian Stoffregen, Exegetical Notes "The Paradox of Our Time" The paradox of our time in history is that: We have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less. We buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years! We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We’ve done larger things, but not better things. We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. Author Unknown "In reading over the Constitutions of all fifty of our states, I discovered something which some of you may not know: there is in all fifty, without exception, an appeal or a prayer to the Almighty God of the universe…. Through all fifty state Constitutions, without exception, there runs this same appeal and reference to God who is the Creator of our liberties and the preserver of our freedoms." - D. James Kennedy It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." - George Washington The Inscription on the Statue of Liberty, written by Emma Lazarus Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me; I lift my lamp beside the golden door. Sermon Opener - Liberty and Civility - Galatians 5:1-15 The United States of America will be 243 years old on July 4. That’s a long time for a nation to remain free. But, when you look at our history in the context of world history America is just a CHILD among the nations. Egypt, China, Japan, Rome, Greece all make America’s history seem so short. Consider what a brief time we’ve really been here as a nation: When Thomas Jefferson died, Abraham Lincoln was a young man of 17. When Lincoln was assassinated, Woodrow Wilson was a boy of 8. By the time he died Ronald Reagan was a boy of 12. There you have it. The lives of four men can take you all the way back to the beginning of our country, 243 years ago. We are so young. And yet we stand tall among these nations because of the principles on which we were established: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. Thus begins the Declaration of Independence, which we celebrate every year. And do not let anyone fool you. Freedom ought and need be celebrated. So many churches and ministers today loathe patriotism in the pulpit. I am not one of those. I celebrate today with you the freedoms which God has blessed this great nations of ours. Now I cannot tell you whether God has blessed us with liberty and therefore we are free or we have wisely and simply built our liberty based on biblical principles. In any case our freedom is from God. Now let me temper our celebrations with a caution: With freedom comes great responsibility. We are not free to live excessive lives. We are not set at liberty to pursue selfish ends. Our independence should not make us infidels. As Paul so eloquently puts it: “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature.” What is true for the church is true for the nation: Liberty demands civility. Freedom requires righteous behavior. On July 4th let’s celebrate Freedom and Civility. 1. First Let’s Celebrate Freedom 2. Second Let’s Celebrate Civility. The young salesman was disappointed about losing a big sale, and as he talked with his sales manager he lamented, "I guess it just proves you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." The manager replied, "Son, take my advice: your job is not to make him drink. Your job is to make him thirsty." So it is with evangelism. Our lives should be so filled with Christ that they create a thirst for the Gospel. Preaching, November-December 1985 A True Reference One of the best letters of reference ever received at the University of Alabama Medical School, according to the Director of Admissions, came from an old mountaineer. The letter read: I’ve known this kid from the day he was born. He played with my kids, helped me with the chores. I don't know if he has sense enough to make it in medical school, but I know he will be the kind of man I'd like to come here to take care of me and my folks. (Don Shelby, Final Evaluations) Isn't that beautiful? And it hints at what I am saying. We can be so at one with Christ that Christ will live and act through us. Maxie Dunnam When Disney World opened in 1971, Walt Disney was not present to witness the grand opening of his greatest dream come true — he had died five years earlier. Dur¬ing the spectacular opening ceremonies, the host of the festivities introduced Walt's widow, Lillian Disney, who would say a few words on stage for the occasion. "Mrs. Disney," the host beamed with reverence, "I wish Walt could have seen this." Lillian stood up, walked over to the podium, adjusted the microphone, and said, "He did." And then she sat down. That simple statement said it all.2