Enough for a Party!

January 19, 2024 John 2:1-11 Enough for a Party! 2nd Sunday After Epiphany Year C Fill My House with Hoping Prelude Greeting Call to Plenty Leader: A miscalculation has occurred. The wedding guests have drunk all the wine before the party is over. At times life can feel like we’re “running out” of so much and scarcity is shutting down the party. In these moments, we are invited to turn to the currency and economy of Jesus. In this new worship series, we will be reminded that in Jesus’ economy, the true measure of abundance is fullness for the entire community, not just for some. Let us build the Kin-dom of God by drawing from jars of Hope, Purpose, Healing, Meaning, Vision, and Grace for all people. In this world of striving, we feel the yearn to earn. The world measures our worth in those earnings. But Jesus had different ideas. Where they perceived that things had run out and dripped dry, he saw the possibility for transformation. When we feel our own resources are lacking, we can view our lives and practices again from the economy of Jesus. Let us pray: God of Abundance, we come to you today, lifting to you our emptiness, our longing, our hoping for a better world. In the midst of our fear, remind us of your transforming and overflowing love and the jars of plenty out of which we can live abundantly in service to all people, especially those who are struggling in body, mind, and spirit. Amen. Song Fill My Cup (Sung Twice) UMH 641 A Sermon for all Ages The Jesus Piggy Bank Responsive Reading with Refrain Psalm 36 UMH 771 Welcoming of New Members Baptismal Covenant I UMH 33 Scripture John 2:1-11 Sermon Enough for a Party! When you think back on your life, what was one of the best days of your life? That is an interesting question for me to answer. Because for me, I don’t judge my days by what happened within the actual day. I judge a day by how much I waited and anticipated the day beforehand. And that would be the time my parents took me to Six Flags in St. Louis. I was seven, and I was excited for weeks. I remember we started the ride to St. Louis in the dark, I fell asleep. My greatest memory was waking up at seven in the morning, and the car was parked right up under the six flags at the front of the park. The day in the park lived up to all of the hype – it was a great day. An adult equivalent would be the day I would leave for the airport to go to a foreign country. For many people, the best days of their life are usually days of big transitions. When the Wine Fails You have heard a bride say it. You have heard a new mother in the maternity ward say it. You have heard a graduating senior say it: This is the happiest day of my life. Some days are like that; they're special. There are great days in all of our lives. I wonder what was your most wondrous moment? For me such days are filled with extraordinary hope and joy. For me it was the birth of my daughter because it was shared with my wife and family. [state yours]. Life involves many happy affairs--the birth of a child, the gatherings of Christmas, a summer vacation. It is often said that to love and be loved is the greatest happiness in the world. For most of us, then, the most significant movement of hope and joy is our wedding day. It's the day we celebrate before God and all our friends the love in our life. Marriage vows are the most profound vows one can make. No other vows are more tender, none are more sacred. No other pledge will so radically shape and claim an individual. The two become one. A home is born. A haven for family is founded. Your place to be is created. But, alas, in too many marriages and in so many lives the wine fails. Brett Blair , www.Sermons.com. Adapted from John K.Bergland, Abingdon Preacher's Annual, Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1992. Sermon Opener – Saving the Best Till Last The Jews attached great importance to the high moments of life. Thus a wedding was not just a brief ceremony, but an experience shared by the entire community. The typical wedding feast could last up to seven days. That sounds strange to our modern way of thinking, but this offered a bright interlude in an otherwise dreary existence. The ceremony would begin on Tuesday at midnight. After the wedding the father of the bride would take his daughter to every house so that everyone might congratulate her. It was a community experience. Weddings were a time of joy. Our scripture is about someone’s best day – the day of their wedding. It must have been a special day for Jesus as well. In some way, he was connected to the brides family.- either neighbor, cousin or good friend of the family – because he was there with the celebrations. Jesus loved to party, he was not afraid of having a good time. He loved to celebrate with the people. This day, this wedding was a really important day for Jesus, for John the gospel writer, and even for us as the reader. Whenever we are reading from the book of John, we know that it is a feast day, a party day in the church. We are celebrating today by welcoming new members, remembering Jesus, it takes a special group of people to come out to hear the book of John on one of the coldest days of the year – but we are here. Any day that Jesus shows up in the church, it is time to party. Today we are celebrating because this is the day of Jesus first miracle. The book of John takes place over a three year period. In John’s gospel, Jesus performs 7 miracles. This is Jesus’ first one. This is even a special day for gospel writer John. John says that this is what happened on the third day of Jesus ministry. On the first day he gets baptized, on the second day he calls us disciples together, and on the third day – he attends a wedding and performs a miracles. When we think of the miracles of Jesus, we usually think of how he improves the life of an individual. – either he helps them to see, or to hear, or he cures them of an illness that has prevented them from having a normal life, or he answers a prayer and brings a loved one back to life. In some way he transforms the situation and changes the whole trajectory of their life. But this time no one is sick or crying or for that matter in need. This time they are all gathered having a good time, when his mother asks for a miracle to make sure that they have an even better time. This miracle doesn’t change one life, it affects the mood of the whole party. They never even realize what Jesus has done, all they know if that the wine keeps flowing. For them, wine symbolizes the good things in life. For us, this miracle symbolizes God’s abundance. Sometimes in life, God shows up, and provides for us and we don’t even realize it. When Jesus appears in our life, a good day turns into a great day. There are days when God gives us things beyond anything that we ever expected – sort of like going to an amusement park as a kid for the first time in your life. I told you that my best day in life was going to an amusement park for the first time. That is still my best day. As a matter of fact, I loved it so much that my first job – was working at an amusement park. Even going to the amusement park every day to work, still didn’t become a chore. I loved going to work – I still love going to amusement parks. (Even though I don’t do rides anymore as an adult). As an adult, I get to come to church everyday and see Jesus everyday! Somedays it is a challenge, but I still love to see Jesus everyday. My 2025 spiritual practice is to intentionally look for God in everyday – and recognize God when God appears. God has a funny way sometimes of just sneaking up on you when you least expect it. You can’t prepare for a miracle – they just happen. Unless we are intentionally looking, we miss most of them. But life is so much better when we look for Jesus. Years ago when Johnny Carson was the host of The Tonight Show he interviewed an eight year old boy. The young man was asked to appear because he had rescued two friends in a coalmine outside his hometown in West Virginia. As Johnny questioned the boy, it became apparent to him and the audience that the young man was a Christian. So Johnny asked him if he attended Sunday school. When the boy said he did Johnny inquired, "What are you learning in Sunday school?" "Last week," came his reply, "our lesson was about when Jesus went to a wedding and turned water into wine." The audience roared, but Johnny tried to keep a straight face. Then he said, "And what did you learn from that story?" The boy squirmed in his chair. It was apparent he hadn't thought about this. But then he lifted up his face and said, "If you're going to have a wedding, make sure you invite Jesus!" The little boy was on to something. Weddings are time of Joy. At the wedding, which Jesus attended in Cana of Galilee, there was great joy but a problem developed. There was a shortage of wine. Not only was that a social embarrassment, it was also a symbol. For a wedding to run out of wine was an omen that there was little chance of this particular marriage reaching its full potential, maybe joy was not meant for this couple. When we the last time that you invited Jesus into your day? Life gets so much better when Jesus is around. Jesus loves to party. In my first newsletter article here, I said something about lets have some fun in church. I got a very stern email from someone telling me that church is not supposed to be fun. Faith is very serious business. That person was not wrong. Optimism - Turning Water into Wine In his second year at college, Martin Short lived at home, helping to care for his sick father. Listen to what he says about this tragic moment: "When my dad died at the end of my sophomore year, I stopped and took stock of my life. There was this real sense that my childhood was officially over. I decided that I wanted to be an actor. I knew I was loved as a kid. The thing you can always rely on, your core person, comes from your family's attention and love. When my mother got sick, and I'd see her fight to survive, it gave me an early view of bravery and what life was about. I was able to prepare for it. Your mother dies, and you're 18, and you face a choice. Are you going to take drugs? Become a drunk? Or are you going to try to become more spiritual? Why not go with the thing that seems more positive?" Then he thought for a moment: "Why do I tend to be optimistic?" And then he answered, "Because the alternative is just crushing to my soul." Brett Blair www.Sermons.com. Quote taken from "When you're funny, you're blessed," Parade, January 23, 2000, p. 5. How Does Jesus Show He Is the Greatest? Imagine that the Bible was lost and somebody today was given the task of recording, to the best of their ability, the deeds and words of the Son of God. They were to give an account of the good influence that Jesus had had in people’s lives. What do you think would have been recorded as the first instance through which Jesus showed his greatness? Imagine that there would be a poll among the Christians of the 21st century where they were to answer the question: how does Jesus show you that he is the greatest? I’ll tell you one thing I don’t think would make it among the top ten: Jesus showing up at a small town wedding, making water into wine. But that’s what the apostle John reports as Jesus’ primary miracle, when he revealed his glory to the disciples, when he showed them his greatness. Why couldn’t Jesus have found a better purpose when he performed his first miracle? Why couldn’t he have intervened in some of the many political conflicts of the time and put an end to war? Why couldn’t he have done something with the world’s food supply and put an end to world hunger? Why did he choose a small town wedding where he had to provide some more wine? These people had been partying for days and they had probably had enough to drink already. Why does Jesus choose to provide wine at a rural wedding when he would reveal his glory? This story tells me that Jesus’ concern is to help individuals and make them happy. How different this is from so many religious ideas about who Jesus is and what he does. Some people have thought that a follower of Jesus should abstain from marriage. Some people seem to think that a good Christian must not be too light hearted, but that a good Christian must be very serious. How very different the real Jesus is. He comes to a wedding. And he decides to perform his first miracle to help people enjoy themselves and have fun. Sigurd Grindheim, The One Who Gives Abundantly The Font Becomes a Punch Bowl Imagine if a church member threw a party in the fellowship hall. While the crystal punch bowl is carried down the steps, it accidentally slips and smashes on the floor. Uncle Joe says, “Don’t panic. I know something we can use.” He goes up the stairs into the sanctuary, hoists the baptismal font over one shoulder, and carries it down to the fellowship hall. Then the caterers fill it with Canada Dry and cranberry juice. The font becomes a punch bowl. Get the picture? It’s disruptive ... like what Jesus did behind the scenes at the wedding in Cana. It goes to show there’s no telling what rules Jesus Christ will break, in order to disclose the presence and power of God. All we can be sure is God’s glory will not be reduced to traditions and rituals. According to the Fourth Gospel, Jesus Christ is not interested in maintaining stale religious customs and established patterns. Rather he is concerned with bringing us into the presence of the eternal God. William G. Carter, Praying for a Whole New World, CSS Publishing Company. Jesus is the greatest savior – because Jesus is the life of the party. A life centered around Jesus makes every day a party. Let us pray…… Song Freely, Freely UMH 389 Prayers of the People Leader: In the economy of Jesus, we are saved from the expense of a “this for that” accounting. We are freely given so much love that it overflows and surpasses our need. And so we come to God in prayer that we might give back from the surplus of that saving grace. Leader: Each week of this series we will be focusing on naming gifts of abundance we have received in the week, instances where we have seen the abundance of Christ at work in the world, and we will ask for the wisdom and strength to change so that abundance is more available to all. There are notecards in the pews/seats and, if you wish to do so, you are invited in the pause between these petitions to write your observations and we will add them to the six stone jars as a sign of thanksgiving and commitment. In this pause, O God, we ponder the many gifts you have given us. Our gratitude seems never enough for the plenty you provide. We call to mind the gifts of creation, of relationships, of sustenance. [pause] In this pause, Christ Jesus, we ponder the ways your love is still at work in the world. Our awe and wonder at the goodness of others is profound. We call to mind acts of kindness, generosity, and selflessness. [pause] In this pause, Holy Spirit, we come asking you for strength. The temptation to live by the economics of not-enough is so strong in us. We ask for revelation in our thinking and doing, so that we might live with hope in the house. [pause] Loving God, Christ Jesus, Holy Spirit, we are yours. We bring to you now the concerns of our day, of our communities, knowing that already you are present, already you are working to bring about comfort and healing. Today we pray for… Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment In this season of Epiphany, we’re reminded of many ways God shows up in our world. God’s Spirit is the giver of gifts, Paul reminds us. And there are MANY gifts! And, it’s all God’s doing! We don’t often speak about our particular spiritual gifts…but today I invite us to consider what gifts we each have been given. (If you want to name names and gifts, go for it! Or, you might lift up remembered gifts shown by those no longer still alive but remembered by those present. Or you might invite each person to turn to someone near them to share a 1 minute story of a spiritual gift they particularly appreciate in someone within the congregation.) Our congregation is blessed by these and so many other gifts, including the gifts each of you offer today. Some are encouragers, some are teachers, some share wisdom. We’re grateful for all, and now each one of you to share your gift of financial support for this congregation and our ministries. Let the light of YOUR gifts shine today as we receive our morning offering. Prayer of Thanksgiving Generous God, thank you for the many gifts you shower upon us. Accept these gifts as one expression of our gratitude for all we’ve received. Bind us together as one part of the Body of Christ, eager to share your Love with the world. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook The jars are full in the Kin-dom of God. The house is full of the hope we need and the hope we are called to give away. We are transformed in the economy of Jesus, bearing the witness of dividends of grace. We have heard the call to invest our interest in the transformation of our communities. And so we go, doing likewise in the world, with the help of God, the guidance of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Now and forever. Amen. Community Time – Joys and Concerns Benediction Look around you, dear people. God's joy is poured out for you so that you might be a blessing to others. God will continually walk and work with you, relieving your burdens and giving you strength. Go into God's world, rejoicing! AMEN. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Nancy Townley Additional Illustrations Inviting Christ Brings Joy Why do we bring Christ into the wedding ceremony? Because if we would only bring Christ into our marriages, we would have better marriages! A few years back psychologist Dr. Joyce Brothers was quoted as saying that for about half of all American couples, marriage is a “quiet hell.” Many other marriages have degenerated into a “tired friendship,” as someone put it. I submit to you that this is a tragedy, and in order to prevent such tragedies, we ought to take the traditional marriage ritual seriously and invite Christ to be a guest at our weddings, just as He was invited to the wedding at Cana in Galilee. Above all, in this quaint and lovely little story, John is proclaiming the Good News that Jesus Christ is the Life of every party, that he is the one who livens things up, brings life abundant for all, even anonymous brides and bridegrooms in an out-of-the-way peasant village located somewhere (where, we are not sure) in the Galilee. As William Barclay put it in his commentary on this passage: “...whenever Jesus comes into our lives there enters a quality which is like turning water into wine. The trouble with life is that we get bored with it. Pleasure loses its thrill. There is a vague dissatisfaction about everything. But when Jesus enters our lives there comes a new exhilaration!” Donald B. Strobe, Collected Words, www.Sermons.com When You Have Christ In the middle ages, Thomas À Kempis wrote: "When you have Christ, you are rich. He is enough. He will provide everything you need so you won't have to count on others without him. People change and fail. You can't depend on them. Those that are for you today may be against you tomorrow. They are as variable as the wind. But Christ is eternally faithful." Mary Trusted. Mary knew that she could count on Jesus and so can we. Billy D. Strayhorn, Wedding Bell Blue Give Your Dilemma to The Lord Dr. Charles Stanley, a prominent minister of a large church in Atlanta, tells the story of a time when their church needed two million dollars to relocate to a larger facility. The only problem was they didn’t have the money. One day, the board members told Dr. Stanley to get a loan from the bank because the deal sounded good. However, Dr. Stanley told the group that they needed divine direction, so they all packed their gear and took off for a state park for the weekend for a time of prayer. All weekend they prayed earnestly that God would give them direction and help them resolve the problem that they were facing. When they finally left the park, they still didn’t have any clear direction about how to purchase the building. But they were committed to waiting on God. A few days later, Dr. Stanley had a message to call a man He had never met. He lived in another state. The man said that he wanted to help Dr. Stanley’s ministry. Immediately, Dr. Stanley called him back, and the stranger said, “I have had you and your ministry on my mind the past several days. I notice that you never ask for money on the broadcast, and I was wondering if you have any needs.” Dr. Stanley explained the situation about the building and how they needed two million dollars to purchase it. The stranger said, “I think I can handle that.” And he gave that church two million dollars. That church had a problem; they gave their problem to Jesus; and their problem was solved. Keith Smith, Anything Is Possible With Jesus