Receiving God

July 2, 2023 Matthew 10:40-42 5th Sunday of Pentecost Receiving God Year A Prelude Welcome Call to Worship (inspired by Matthew 10:40-42) One: Welcome to all gathered, and on line, as we come to worship God. Many: With our words and our actions, we extend greetings to all. One: Prophets, Righteous, old and young, this is the place to find your reward. Many: We’ve come to offer our gifts, and give thanks for all God is doing. One: Even a cup of cold water is appreciated! Many: So we lift our voices and sing our praise! (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Opening Prayer Ever-present God, we’ve come to praise your name, and to honor you with our time, our talent and our treasure. Help us steady our hearts, and focus our minds on your presence among us. Accept our intentions to worship you alone, for you’ve given us power through your Spirit. We receive what you offer, and give you our thanks, through Jesus Christ, whose life, death & resurrection we celebrate! AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Song America the Beautiful UMH 696 Children’s Sermon This week we will celebrate Independence Day! That is our country's birthday. This morning I have the American Flag. This is the flag of the United States of America. As you know, our flag is red, white, and blue. Have you ever stopped to think what those colors mean? Red: Red stands for courage. Many men and women have had the courage to stand up and fight for our country. They have defended our country against our enemies and many have died in the service of our country. White: White stands for purity. Purity means to do what is right. We hope and pray that our country will always stand for what is right. Blue: Blue stands for justice. When we pledge allegiance to the flag, we end with the words: "With liberty and justice for all." That means that in our country, everyone should be treated fairly and with respect. The colors red, white, and blue remind me of our country, but those colors also remind me of Jesus. Red reminds me of Jesus' blood that was shed when he died on the cross for my sin. That is very important, because the Bible says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22). White reminds me that when I give my heart to Jesus, he washes me and I become as "white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18). The Bible says, "you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 6:10). Blue reminds me of God's faithfulness. The Bible tells us that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and make us clean" (1 John 1:9). God is faithful to keep His promises. Red, white, and blue. Yes, I am reminded of our great country, but more importantly, I am reminded of our great Savior, Jesus. You know, even in our nation’s history, we see a lot of mixed message welcomes. For example, do you recognize this? (Hold up picture of the Statue of Liberty) It’s called the Statue of Liberty. It stands in the harbor outside New York, right by a place called Ellis Island. The statue is a symbol of freedom, and it even has a poem on it welcoming people who are tired and yearn to be free. It was the first thing that immigrants saw when they moved to the United States from other countries. But they would pass through this processing place called Ellis Island, where they were screened, and sometimes sent back home, if they didn’t have good health, or plans, or enough money. Even if they made it through, these immigrants were often treated poorly by other people. Sometimes Americans refused to give them jobs or food or a place to stay. I wish that were ancient history, but it still happens. (Hold up recent picture of immigration processing center, protest at a wall, or other immigration-related news). Some people do not want to welcome others who aren’t like them. Unfortunately, this can even happen in churches. We might say we welcome everyone, but if people look a certain way, they might be treated negatively or feel cast out. This is not what Jesus wanted. To be sure, we need to make sure that we stay safe. We can’t just throw open the doors of our houses to anyone who might walk in and do something evil. We do want to wear masks and make sure we’re feeling healthy for the sake of other people. And we need to monitor the situation of our country and population. Father, we thank You for those who fought for our freedom. We thank You even more for Jesus, who gave us freedom from death and freedom from sin. Help us to live in that freedom by doing what is right and not giving in to our temptations to do wrong. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. (Ministry to Children – Kristin Schmidt) Prayer of Reflection and Transformation Holy Prophet, Divine Warmth, Creating a home for strangers and friends can often take extra effort. From the extra cleaning to food preparations, we spend extra time, talents, and treasures to care for your children. Sometimes, we often do not feel as if we have the energy to go the extra distance – to ensure the drinks are cold and our homes are cozy. Give us an extra boost in our bodies, minds, and souls to be the welcome team in your Realm. May we embrace divine hospitality as we care for the ones struggling the most, the ones caring for your creation, and the ones speaking prophetically for you. Amen. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Michelle Torigan) Words of Grace and Love God continues to welcome us into the Divine Realm even when we walk past its doorway. God’s magnificent grace will refresh our hearts, inspiring us to return again. Amen. (United Church of Christ, Michelle Torigan) Scripture Matthew 10:40-42 Sermon Receiving God Usually for the 4th of July I always talk about freedom in Christ – but today I want to talk about discipleship – what does it cost us to citizens of heaven. No, the 4th is not a Christian holiday – Christianity and the building of our nation go hand in hand. Do not let anyone claim tribute of American patriotism if they even attempt to remove religion from politics." – George Washington’s Farewell Address to Nation Our legal system is based on the ten commandments, the United Methodist church is structured just like the US government, and the values of our nation are based on God. "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of and to the Republic for which is stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." "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." From America’s God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations, William J. Federer, Fame Publishing. In light of the presence of God in the principles of our nation, service to the greater good and a willingness to sacrifice are important. This dedication to the greater good is shared by our founding fathers and the disciples of christ. Both of these groups were so committed that they were willing to sacrifice. Sermon Opener – Never Underestimate the Power of a Cold Cup of Water - Matthew 10:40-42 Now I would like to stop the world for just one minute and ask you to think back. Think back with me to the first century. Think about those 50 years after Jesus’ death and what it must been like for Jesus’ disciples. Before the last one died their efforts had brought 500,000 men, women, and children into the ranks of the church. But what they had to suffer in order to accomplish this task is seldom discussed. We like the outcome of their discipleship but we don’t want to hear the cost of discipleship. So for the record here is the cost: History tells us… 1. John died of extreme old age exiled to the island of Patmos. 2. Judas Iscariot, after betraying his Lord, hanged himself. 3. Peter was crucified; head downward, during the persecution of Nero. 4. Andrew died on a cross at Patrae, a Grecian Colony. 5. James, the younger, son of Alphaeus, was thrown from a pinnacle of the Temple, and then beaten to death with a club. 6. Bartholomew was flayed alive in Albanapolis, Armenia. 7. James, the elder son of Zebedee, was beheaded at Jerusalem. 8. Thomas, the doubter, was run through the body with a lance at Coromandel, in the East Indies. 9. Philip was hanged against a pillar at Heropolis. 10. Thaddeus was shot to death with arrows. 11. Simon died on a cross in Persia (what we now call Iran.) 12. Matthew was first stoned and then beheaded. What sacrifices! And I ask you why? Why did they choose to die this way? Why desert your father and mother, your wife and child, and your home? Why put up with the constant humiliation, and hunger, and persecution, and defeat town after town after town? I’ll tell you why, because, in the words of Apostle Paul, they were held captive by the words and teachings of Jesus Christ. It is Paul’s way of saying they were slaves to Christ… Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. Their conviction resulted in untold sufferings for themselves and their families. Of the 56 men, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. Another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or hardships of the war. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships sunk by the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in poverty. At the battle of Yorktown, the British General Cornwallis had taken over Thomas Nelson's home for his headquarters. Nelson quietly ordered General George Washington to open fire on the Nelson home. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and mill were destroyed. For over a year, he lived in forest and caves, returning home only to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion. Today is an opportunity to honor both groups of all men. But all of us have a chance to fulfill their legacy. In the book of Matthew, Jesus is a teacher – he gives 2 major teachings. First – the sermon on the mount is for the people. Chapters 9 and 10 are the second lesson, giving specifically to the disciples. Apparently, Jesus is preparing them for a mission. We don’t know what the mission is, and we never hear in Matthew if they completed the mission. Mark and Luke speak of the mission, but they don’t go into detail like Matthew does. Jesus tells all of us who are still sent on this mission – to take up your cross and follow me. Trying to help people is not easy, and most of the time the people who you re trying to help are going to destroy you. And yet you still serve. When buddhist monks are sent to help the community they are given a begging bowl. – they knock on doors and eat what people are willing to put in the bowl. When Jesus sends out his disciples, he tells them to take nothing for the journey. To depend totally on the kindness of others. If they show kindness to stay and serve them, if they don’t shake the dust off of your feet and to keep stepping. Relying of the kindness of strangers – that is the meaning of the word hospitality. Hospitality is a latin word that literally means turning strangers into friends. The foundation of our faith – our mission has always been to turn strangers into friends. Jesus mission for us is to care for people, to provide for everyone’s basic needs and to welcome them into the circle. Jesus says that when we welcome strangers – that we are welcoming him, when we welcome him we are welcoming God Hospitality is not only the foundation of our faith, it is our connection to God. We all know that the business of hospitality is much more dangerous today then it was in Jesus’ day. We are close to the anniversary of the shooting of church members who invited a stranger to their bible study. That is one of many attacks on houses of worship in recent years. And yet, Jesus still calls us to be in the mission of hospitality. Whoever Welcomes You, Welcomes Me Recently I was sent this story. The author said, I saw him in the church building for the first time on Wednesday. He was in his mid-70’s with thinning silver hair and a neat brown suit. Many times in the past I had invited him to come. Several other Christian friends had talked to him about the Lord and had tried to share the good news with him. He was well respected, honest, a man of good character. He acted much like a Christian would act, but he never came to church or professed Christ. After I got to know him well and we had talked about a wide range of subjects I asked him if he had ever been to a church service. He hesitated. Then with a twisted grimace told me of an experience he had as a boy. He was raised in a large family. His parents survived the depression but they struggled to provide food and clothing for the family. When he was around ten years old a friend invited him to go to church with his family. He went – the Sunday School class was great. The songs were fun to sing and the stories, oh the great Bible stories, were exciting to hear. He had never heard anyone read from the Bible before. As class ended the teacher pulled him aside and said, “Son, please don’t come again dressed as you are now. We want to look our best when we come into God’s house.” He looked down at his old hand me down overalls that were certainly worn and tattered. He thought about that for a moment and said softly, “No ma’am I won’t ever.” Then he looked at me, the author wrote and said, “And you know what… I never did.” It was clear that he was done with that conversation. The author reflected, I am sure that the Sunday School teacher meant well and in fact was representing the feeling of the majority of the folks in that church. But what if, what if she had put her arms around the dirty little boy in the ragged overalls and said, “Son, I am thrilled that you came this morning and I hope you will come every chance you get to hear more about Jesus because he loves you so much.” Moreover what if she would have talked with her pastor or her friends in the church and mobilized a full blown outreach effort to help this family make ends meet. What if that church would have thought, Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Or whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple will receive a great reward (v. 40 & 42) The story ended like this: Yes I saw him in the church house for the first time on Wednesday and I cried as I looked at the immaculately dressed old gentleman lying there in his casket. He was looking his best. But all I could think of were those words of an impressionable little ten-year-old boy echoing in my mind, “No ma’am I won’t ever.” David Wiggs, Who Needs a Welcome? The kindness that we show to others really makes a difference. How we treat others has a lasting impressions. Jesus sends us out into the world to serve and to be served. Take nothing for your journey, rely on the kindness of others. Three times in two sentences Jesus says that when we give and receive kindness that we will receive a reward. As Christians we are always both the giver and the receiver of hospitality. We should always be welcoming and welcomeable. Sometimes our reward big and something the truly affects us, and sometimes our reward is spiritual. But our hospitality never goes unnoticed by God. Simple Caring For several weeks, Mrs. Sherman's first-grade class had waited for the field trip to the observatory. Notices had been sent home with instructions about the bus, lunch, and times of departure and return. To the students, waiting for the field trip was like waiting for Christmas. Finally, the day arrived. We grabbed our lunches and coats and lined up for the bus. In the back of the room, one boy began to cry because he had forgotten to bring a lunch and would have to stay behind with another teacher. In a few minutes, the other children had contributed extra sandwiches, fruit, desserts, and drinks until the boy had a feast for his lunch. With new tears, this time tears of gratitude, he grabbed his coat, lined up, and climbed onto the bus. We had given him a "cup of cold water." Acts of service are not always dramatic or earth-shattering. Simple caring is all that is needed. Discipleship means being alert for opportunities to care, to demonstrate God's loving-kindness, and to teach others to do the same. Gene Blair Our hospitality opens the door to healing in the lives of others. I know that I have used this quote before, but I think that it is a fitting end today. 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. As disciples of Christ, let us continue to show hospitality to others. Amen. Song This is My Song UMH 437 Independence Day Prayer We pause as a people to lift up our prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, lamentation and petition. We ask you to accept the prayers we make that serve your will and fulfill the vision you have for our world. As we give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy on this Independence Day, we pray for peoples and countries struggling under oppressive regimes, abusive systems of power and coercive means of control. We pray for our nation’s leaders who seek creative ways to address complex problems. We pray for the safety and well-being of our military personnel, especially those serving in harm’s way. We pray for those who are traveling this weekend, that they might be responsible and safe. We pray for those in our nation still waiting to be freed from hunger, poverty and the ravages of injustice. We prayer for those whom we hold in our heart. Fill all people with your Holy Spirit that we might bear each other’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. United as a family of faith and as the Body of Christ we lift these prayers up to you, God our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Finally, hear us pray the prayer Christ taught us Amen. (Presbyterian Outlook, Terri McDowell Ott) Stewardship Moment For many communities, this is prime vacation time! Summer, school’s out, weather is warm, and the earth is in full bloom. And still, we’ve come together on this Lord’s Day morning, to offer our thanksgiving to the Giver of Life. Here’s the challenge: What can we give to the one who has created all that is? The Psalmist cried out in lament, and then declared I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, (who) has dealt bountifully with me. Today, trusting in God’s steadfast love, we invite you to share your financial gifts, your prayers of thanksgiving and your voices, as we receive our morning offering. (Invite the congregation to walk forward, as those with monetary gifts lay envelopes, checks and/or cash in an offering tray while the congregation sings CH#379 “Accept, O God, the Gifts We Bring”) Prayer of Thanksgiving Ever-giving God, thank you for the many ways you continue to encourage and challenge us. May your life flow abundantly through us! Please receive this offering. Use it, and use us, to free up the good gifts of life for others. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Invitation to Communion (reflecting on Romans 6:23) Over years of life, many of us have had reason to ask “what will my wages be?” or “What will I be paid?” Paul, writing to the Romans, sets out a clear description: “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It is THAT free gift which we celebrate each time we come to this table. Here we touch and taste the gift we’ve been given, as we eat bread and drink a sip of juice. These emblems symbolize for each of us the gift of LIFE in Christ Jesus, our Lord. No need to worry about being underpaid, or unpaid. Jesus Christ is the strong foundation on which our lives can stand, secure. So come, share in this meal of remembrance and thanksgiving. God is making a WAY for each and for all to step into eternal life which is ours here and now. Communion And Passing of the Peace Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook May God keep you safe May your bellies be full May your thirst be quenched May your hearts be blessed With knowing you are loved And may you share that love With all who come your way Amen. From Liturgies from Below: Praying with People at the Ends of the World, ed. Cláudio Carvalhaes Joys and Concerns Benediction Do not ever be afraid to welcome others. Bring your welcoming, accepting spirit to all those whom you meet. May God go with you on your journey this week and all of your days. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Nancy Townley)