Christmas is not over

First Sunday after Christmas Matthew 2:13-23 A Christmas Story Prelude Greeting Call to Worship Wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” On this first Sunday of Christmas, we, too, have come to worship Jesus the Messiah: the son of David, the son of Abraham. When the wise men saw the child with Mary his mother, they knelt down, paid him homage, and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. On this first Sunday of Christmas, we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you, O God. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all. Glory to God in the highest heaven! (Presbyterian Outlook, Phillip Gladden) Invocation Holy Love, we delight in your presence among us. We anticipate your wisdom, assurance, and challenge. Soften our hearts, enliven our spirits, and expand our minds so that we may reflect your heart, spirit, and mind. Through our remembering, give us courage to face these times and hope to seek your kingdom. In the name of the One who came to us and lives and reigns with you, we pray. Amen. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Cheryl Lindsay) Song Joy to the World UMH 246 A Sermon for all Ages What did you Get for Christmas? Children’s Sermon: “Christmas Is Still Going” (Have a small nativity figure, a baby doll, or even a flashlight with you.) Good morning, friends! I have a question for you. Who got Christmas presents this year? (Wait for hands.) Who ate Christmas cookies? (Wait, smile.) Now here’s a trickier question: Is Christmas over? A lot of people think it is. The tree comes down. The lights go off. The songs stop playing on the radio. Sometimes it feels like Christmas just disappears. But today’s Bible story tells us something surprising. After Jesus was born, something scary happened. A king named Herod was afraid of baby Jesus. So God sent an angel to talk to Joseph in a dream. The angel said, “Get up. Take Mary and Jesus and go somewhere safe.” So Joseph got up. Mary got up. And they took baby Jesus on a journey. That means the first Christmas didn’t end with everyone staying cozy and safe. Christmas went on the road. Let’s pretend for a moment. Everyone, stand up. Now quietly tiptoe in place—because they had to leave at night. (Do it together.) Now hold your arms like you’re carrying something very precious. That’s baby Jesus. Mary and Joseph had to protect him. They had to love him. They had to keep going—even when it was hard. And here’s the important part for us: When Christmas ended for them… Christmas was just beginning. Because Christmas isn’t only about presents or lights or cookies. Christmas is about love. Christmas is about helping people feel safe. Christmas is about being kind. Christmas is about caring for others—especially when they are small or scared or hurting. So when you share your toys, that’s Christmas. When you help someone who is sad, that’s Christmas. When you say thank you, or I’m sorry, or I love you—that’s Christmas too. Christmas doesn’t stop when the decorations come down. Christmas keeps going—through you. Let’s say that together: “Christmas is not over. Christmas is just beginning!” (Repeat once more.) Let’s pray. Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for Jesus. Help us carry your love everywhere we go. Help us be kind, brave, and loving— because Christmas is still going. Amen. ________________________________________ If you’d like, I can: • shorten this to 2 minutes • adapt it for very young children • or add a simple object lesson (like moving nativity figures or a flashlight for “light in the darkness”) Is this conversation helpful so far? Affirmation of Faith In Jesus of Nazareth, true humanity was realized once for all. Jesus, a Palestinian Jew, lived among his own people and shared their needs, temptations, joys, and sorrows. He expressed the love of God in word and deed and became a brother to all kinds of sinful men and women. But his complete obedience led him into conflict with his people. His life and teaching judged their goodness, religious aspirations, and national hopes. Many rejected him and demanded his death. In giving himself freely for them, he took upon himself the judgment under which everyone stands convicted. God raised him from the dead, vindicating him as Messiah and Lord. The victim of sin became victor, and won the victory over sin and death for all. (Presbyterian Confession of Faith 1967) Passing of the Peace Song Welcome to Our World Worship and Song 3067 –(see insert) Scripture Matthew 2:13-23 A Post Christmas Story Christmas Has Just Begun By December 26th, most of the world has moved on. The radio stations switch back to regular programming. The stores rip down the decorations overnight. Trees sit at the curb, stripped of ornaments, waiting for pickup. Even in our homes, boxes come out, and we begin the quiet work of putting Christmas away. We do it almost automatically—because that’s what we’re used to. Christmas is something we finish. But the Gospel of Matthew tells us something very different. Matthew does not end the Christmas story with angels and shepherds and lullabies. Matthew tells us that after the celebration, danger arrives. After the gifts are opened, fear enters the story. After the holy night, there is a knock in the dark. Joseph has a dream—not a comforting dream, but a disturbing one. “Get up,” the angel says. “Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt.” No choirs. No star. No peaceful ending. Just urgency. Mary and Joseph do not get to linger in the glow of Christmas. They don’t get to stay where it feels safe. They gather what they can, wake the baby, and leave—because love sometimes looks like running toward the unknown in order to protect what matters most. That is the part of the Christmas story we don’t put on greeting cards. And yet—it may be the most important part. Because this is where Christmas stops being a moment… and starts becoming a way of life. ________________________________________ A few days after Christmas, Mark noticed that his neighborhood looked different. The inflatable snowmen were gone. The lights were dark. A discarded Christmas tree lay on the curb, needles already browning, one string of lights still clinging to its branches. One bulb flickered on and off, stubbornly refusing to go out. Mark smiled at that. At home, Christmas was already being dismantled. Ornaments wrapped carefully in tissue paper. The stockings folded and tucked away. The nativity set sat half-packed on the dining room table. The shepherds were back in their box. The animals were missing. The wise ones hadn’t been packed yet—still waiting on the shelf, as if mid-journey. His daughter stood nearby, holding the small figure of Mary. “Why are we putting Jesus away already?” she asked. Mark paused. He gave the answer most of us give. “Well… Christmas is over.” But even as he said it, the words didn’t sit right. Later that night, he scrolled through the news. Stories of violence. Families displaced. Children caught in systems too big and too cruel for them. Fear dressed up as policy. Power protecting itself at the expense of the vulnerable. And suddenly Matthew’s story felt uncomfortably current. Herod was afraid of losing control. So he chose cruelty. And Christmas—the real Christmas—found itself on the run. Mary and Joseph became refugees. Jesus became a child whose life depended on the courage of others. The Savior of the world became someone who needed protecting. Christmas did not end with peace on earth. It collided with the reality of a broken world. And still—God stayed in it. ________________________________________ The next morning, Mark kept thinking about that flickering light on the tree at the curb. About how easy it would have been to unplug it. About how tempting it is to say, “That season is done.” But Matthew reminds us: Christmas isn’t a story we admire—it’s a story we continue. Joseph didn’t argue with the angel. He didn’t say, “Can we wait until after the holidays?” He got up. He moved. He acted. So Mark tried to do the same. At the coffee shop, he noticed the barista looked exhausted. Instead of rushing off, he thanked her by name. It felt small—but it mattered. At work, he listened instead of interrupting. At the grocery store, he slowed down instead of snapping. On the way home, he stopped at the food pantry—not because it was convenient, but because it was necessary. None of it felt dramatic. None of it came with angels singing. But it felt… faithful. That night, he took the nativity back out. This time, he didn’t put it in the center of the table like a finished display. He placed it near the edge—Mary and Joseph angled as if they were moving forward. He left the wise ones off to the side, still traveling. He kept the scene unfinished. “This is how the story goes on,” he told his daughter. Because Christmas isn’t something we protect behind glass. It’s something we carry into the world. ________________________________________ Matthew 2 reminds us that the Christmas story is not sentimental—it is courageous. It tells us that following God may lead us into uncomfortable places. That loving Christ means protecting the vulnerable. That light does not deny the darkness—it shines within it. The child grows up. The family returns home. The story continues. And now, the angels are quiet. Now, we are the ones who must get up when love calls us to move. Now, we are the ones who must shelter hope when fear threatens it. Now, we are the ones who carry Christ into a world that still needs saving So if you feel a little disoriented after Christmas—good. If you feel like something is unfinished—good. That’s because it is. Christmas is not over. It has just begun. It begins every time we choose compassion over convenience. Every time we protect the vulnerable. Every time we refuse to let the light go out—even when the season has passed. The tree may be at the curb. The music may have changed. But the child is still on the move. And so are we. So let me ask, when is Christmas over for you. Are you one to take down the decorations as soon as Christmas is over, or do you let it linger. Well this year, I didn’t get the chance to decorate my tree until Christmas day. I am one who has a hard time letting go of the Christmas spirit, so I knew that the lights stay on for me until January 9th, and then it still takes a few days to put it up. Different traditions have different opinions about the end of Christmas – for most it is January 6th of January 7th for us – Epiphany Sunday. For others ends at the feast of the baptism, which is the second Sunday of January, for others it is Candlemas, which isn’t until February 2. Of course, Jesus would want us to keep the spirit of Christmas going all year. Can you imagine what a different place the world would be if we gave to the world the way we do for Christmas. I saw a Facebook post that said the even though the giftgiving is over, Christmas just begins. Howard Thurman – the dean of Boston University as well as a civil rights leader also tells us that the work of Christmas has just began. When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among brothers, To make music in the heart. Dr, Thurman takes his cue from Matthew chapters 5 and 6 where Jesus tells us the work of a Christian. To reach out to those who are seeking, to pray for those who are in need, to not only provide food for those who are hungry, but to reject systems that keep them impoverished, to be an intentional part of the community, to be nice to those around us, to praise God in all that we do. Jesus did all of those things for others, and he showed us how to continue that work. Basically, Jesus came into the world – to transform the world through unconditional love. He loved us so that we could love others. Unconditional love does not have a set circumstance, unconditional love does not a specific person to save, it is intended for everyone. Unconditional love does not have a set time to show itself. Anytime that we show unconditional love – the Spirit of Christmas, the spirit of Christ is in the air. Let us pray – for Christ Spirit to be with us all of the time……. (ChatGPT six) Song It Came Upon a Midnight Clear UMH 218 Prayer for the Arrival of Christmas (do not print) Almighty and eternal God, we praise you for the joy of Christmas and for the gift of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. In this season of goodwill, we remember your covenant promises and your mighty acts for all of your people. Once again, we have been comforted by the story of Jesus being wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. We have taken heart when we again heard the news that a Savior was born for us in Bethlehem. We have enjoyed the celebrations and the giving and receiving of gifts. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of Christmas. And yet, Lord, we know Christmas comes in a world in which there is not much peace, joy and goodwill. Rulers use their power to get rid of anyone and anything that threatens their control. Innocent children suffer and die. So many people live with injustice every day. Death seems to have the final word. Gracious and loving God, we pray for our world that needs to hear the good news of Christmas. We pray you will give us the courage and strength to be witnesses to our Savior, not just in what we say but especially in how we live. Help us remember and share the joy of Christmas throughout the year. During this Christmas season, may we not forget to share the love you have so freely given in Jesus Christ. Guide us in all we do that we may respond with compassion to those in need. Help us be a church that takes the good news of Jesus Christ beyond the walls and traditions and safety of our buildings. Help us always to put our trust in our Lord who says, “Follow me.” [Here the prayer leader may add particular concerns of the congregation and the world, especially for those for whom the Christmas season is particularly hard because of sorrow, health issues, and other concerns.] We love you, Lord. Show us how to love others with the same grace and love you have given us in Jesus Christ. Amen (Presbyterian Outlook, Philip Gladden) Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment Invitation to Generosity Generosity is a spiritual gift and a discipline. Let us cultivate our practice of trusting in God’s provision, abundance, and love by giving generously to meet the needs of our community and beyond. Prayer of Dedication and Thanksgiving Wise God, we present these offerings to you and dedicate our time, talents, and treasures for your kingdom. May your will be done, our siblings needs be met, and your name be known through what we share in praise and thanksgiving for all you have given to us in time, talent, and treasure. Amen. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Cheryl Lindsay) Announcements Community Time - Joys and Concerns Benediction When we leave this place, we keep our connection to one another. When we leave this time, we keep our focus on the God we trust. When we leave this service, we keep our worship going in service in the world. May our commitments bloom, our hope flourish, and our ministry prosper as we go forth in God’s love. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Cheryl Lindsay)

Time to Get up and Run

August 17, 2025 Hebrews 11:2912:2 Time to Get up and Run 10th Sunday of Pentecost Year C Prelude Call to Worship (Inspired by Psalm 80) One: Turn again, O God of hosts; look down from heaven and see; have regard for this vine, the stock that your right hand planted. Many: The world is ablaze around us with pain and suffering, natural disasters and human schemes, injustice and brokenness. One: Create again, O God of Fire; respond to the needs of your people and shepherd us to be good stewards of your creation. Many: Let your Holy Fire meet the infernos that seek to consume us with refining and renewing power. One: Redeem again, O God of hosts; ignite a flame within your kingdom that will spread as a wildfire of righteousness and love. Many: Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Cheryl Lindsay) Opening Prayer Caring God, we come before you eager to recognize the ways you care for us even in challenging moments. We celebrate this time of congregating…gathering in person and online to lift our hearts, our minds and our spirits in a time of praise and petition. Some of us are discouraged, filled with anxiety and questions. Some of us are celebrating because we are in a positive life moment. Some of us are questioning why we’re here; others are confident, claiming this space and time to honor you, to build up our lives and to strengthen your church. Accept each of us, Holy Creator, meeting us just where we are and luring us to step closer to you, to your Son, Jesus, our Christ, and to your Holy Spirit. AMEN. (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Song Holy God we Praise your Name UMH 79 A Sermon for all Ages What is Faith? • Faith…is it cotton candy or caramel? Explain that some people have a confused or uncertain concept of what faith is. Have you ever eaten cotton candy? You might put a big blob in your mouth, only to have it seemingly disappear as the sugar evaporates on your tongue. If our faith is in fairy tales, it might be sort of like that disappearing cotton candy experience. Allow students to sample the cotton candy. On the other hand, try something that will stick, like caramel or peanut butter (watch for allergies!). These are things that really stick with you. True faith in God relies on something of substance. It sticks with you and satisfies you, like peanut butter! (Or caramel. Or…something else sticky, your pick!) Faith is what sticks with us, when people, situations, things fade and disappear. Encouraged to think about out faith – who are the people, situations, things that stick with us and support us. God sends them in our life in order to complete the task ahead of us – we all have a job to do, a race to run. Think of those who stick with us, remember one person who stick with us through all that we go through – that person is Jesus. Passing of the Peace Scripture Hebrews 11:29 - 12:2 Sermon Time to Get up and Run This is the beginning of the school year. We honor this occasion with the blessing of the back packs. As preschool kids, youth, college students, teachers and others return to school – we will see a parade of backpacks. I have heard that the hottest trend in backpacks are from the company sprayground. They cost up to $150, and they come with all kinds of shapes and characters. In Japan, backpacks are a big investment, because not only does it carry books, but it is designed to protect the child in all sorts of situations. There are a lot of school districts that are going with the clear bag policy, like me, so that they can see what is inside of the backpack. For a young child starting school for the first time, picking a backpack can be a big deal – often times they will want a backpack that had a picture of their favorite super hero - like superman, or batman, or even the Hulk. Today the theme of or lesson for today is heroes. But not the type that we would see on the outside of a book bag. But the ones that we would put on the inside of the bag. The heroes that we carry with us whereever we go. We carry the memories of our personal heroes. Those heroes encourage us, inspire us, when we are ready to give up they are our strength, when we are going through hard times, they support us. A father was sitting on the floor with his three boys getting ready for bedtime prayers. The two older boys were having an argument about their action figures. The issue was whether Superman was better than He-Man. One boy said that Superman could fly, the other countered that He-Man had bigger muscles. And so it went, back and forth, while the youngest boy, Nicholas age four, just watched. Dad turned to Nick and asked: "So who's your hero, Nick?" Without batting an eye, Nick tilted his head, gave Dad one of those "Well, Duh!" Looks, grinned and said matter-of-factly, "You are, Daddy!" That father said it was one of the happiest moments of his life. What a privilege to think that someone really wants to be just like you, but what an awesome responsibility! (1) We all have heroes, don't we? And I'm not talking Superman, Batman, Buck Rogers, Power Puff Girls or any of the other superheros of the comic books or cartoons. I'm not talking about the characters portrayed by John Wayne, Randolf Scott, Vin Diesel, Tom Cruise or any other Hollywood heroes. I'm about real people who have influenced us. Those people whose live and accomplishments have impacted us in such a way as to give us hope. When Napoleon was seeking to motivate his tired, dispirited troops in Egypt fighting almost in the very shadows of the great pyramids of that land, he said to his men, "Remember, forty centuries are looking at you." We could say the same thing this morning-sixty centuries of believers are looking at us. "Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses...." Who are the heroes that you carry with you through life? Well in our scripture for today in the book of Hebrews, Paul talks about the heroes of faith that we keep with us. In chapter 11, Paul not only names some of the biblical heroes of faith, he names the situation where they had to step out on nothing but faith and they became an example for people for ages to come. Many of those people never saw the fruition of the dreams that guided their life, but they still passed that dream on to the next generation. Many of those people entrusted their hopes and dreams to us. There is a saying that we are our ancestors wildest dream. Paul encourages us to carry those people with us, when we fulfill their dreams. Whereever we go, we carry a cloud of witnesses with us. I have a pastor friend out in Texas who shared with recently about his son. In his mid-teens he became addicted to drugs. Even after several treatment programs, he still could not shake the addiction. Finally, in desperation he attempted to commit suicide and almost succeeded. When he regained consciousness, he was terribly disappointed that he had failed. He told his parents that he would do it again as soon as he could because he did not want to live anymore. Both of his parents had been through the Walk to Emmaus experience. Word got out in the Emmaus community about the boy situation. Hundreds of these people started praying for him. Not only that; they sent hundreds of cards to this boy while he was still in the hospital, even though they did not know him personally. A wise Christian psychiatrist started working with the young man. He extracted this promise from him: I will not try to kill myself again until I have sent a thank-you card to all the people who have written to me. By the time he had written literally hundreds of thank-you cards, God had somehow broken into his depression; he no longer wanted to kill himself. In fact, he was really on his way with the help of Christ to conquering the addiction. Indeed, all of us are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, grandstands filled with angels and saints cheering for us. Speaking of grandstands of witnesses…. It was baseball season in a small Pennsylvania town. If you know anything about Little League baseball, you know it is also a time when little boys' hearts and egos are on the line. A certain ten-year-old boy had ridden the bench most of the season. But in the championship game, his coach finally called him up to bat. The little boy's whole extended family had turned out for this very special game. His parents, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, second cousins, you name it, they were all there, cheering and clapping and shouting words of encouragement. The little boy swallowed his anxiety and stepped up to the plate. He gripped the bat and stared hard at the pitcher. Whoosh! The pitch flew by him. Strike one! From the stands, his family cheered him on. "You can do it! You can do it!" So he lifted his bat again and waited for the pitch. Again he swung and connected with air. Strike two! His shoulders started to slump and his hands began to sweat, as he stared down the pitcher one last time. The ball flew by for strike three! The other team jumped and shouted for joy, while the little boy's teammates gave him the silent treatment as they left the field. Our little batter slumped over on the dugout bench, put his head in his hands, and began to cry. But his crying was interrupted by the sound of his father's voice: "Son," he said, "the game's not over." Lifting his head, the boy saw his family, all of them, even his frail grandmother, spread out across the field, waiting to play. They began cheering loudly as the boy picked up his bat. His father pitched the ball, and the boy swung. Crack! The ball flew into the outfield, and the boy took off for first base. As he rounded the bases, cousins, uncles and aunts shouted words of encouragement. Somehow, all those able adults were unable to corral the ball he had hit. As this little boy headed for home plate, his father stood behind the plate and welcomed him with open arms. They celebrated his home run by lifting him on their shoulders and carrying him around the field. (1) What a magnificent reminder of today's text. And what a magnificent reminder of who we, as a Church and the people of God, are called to be and do. Take a few minutes to think about all those people whose shoulders of faith you have climbed. Give thanks to God for their faith and faithfulness. And then think about all those who look to you and are lifted by you on the shoulders of your faith. Give thanks to God for allowing you the privilege of being a Saint for someone else. As part of that time of reflection on the Saints in your life and those for whom you are a Saint, I'd like to give you the opportunity to light a candle in their honor and memory as a reminder of the light of Christ which shone through their lives and touched you. When you're finished we'll close with prayer. I can picture my family, many who have passed on now, in the grandstands of my mind – cheering me on in life. Paul encourages us to remember those cloud of witnesses, but most importantly to remember the our most important encouragement comes from the biggest cheerleader of all – Jesus Christ. Jesus took us to the cross, to give us strength through the challenging times. But Christ rose from the dead to give us strength to stay faithful to the end. Paul says that sometimes life is like running a race. When we run, we should run with our heroes, and Jesus in the back pack on our back. This year, our tags to keep on our life bags, says God has your back. God go with you wherever your bag takes you. God will see us through the finish line. So it is time for us to get up and run. I know that some of us don’t run anymore. Some of us don’t run like we used to. Some of us have never run, some of us can’t run. But we can all keep the faith. We can have enough faith to look up to God, to let go of our sin and fear, and to take a leap when we can’t see the finish line. We have a whole story book of people who kept the faith in tough circumstances, and kept going. Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard had it right; - to believe in God or even make the attempt to understand the nature of God is to make a leap of faith. Reinhold Niebuhr said, “Nothing worth doing is completed in one lifetime, therefore, we must be saved by hope. Nothing true or beautiful makes complete sense in any context of history, therefore, we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, no matter how virtuous, can be accomplished alone, therefore, we are saved by love.” So think about it now, what is the race you are running? What are the obstacles, what are the achievements? Where are you in the race? Can you see the finish line from here? Are you just getting started? Who are the witnesses that have encouraged you? Who is your lead runner? - Jesus. In the race of life, let’s follow the example of all the faith heroes who have gone before us, let us ignore everything that gets in the way of us being disciples that we can become heroes, les us remember Jesus who did not give up because of the cross, but faces the pain and disgrace and not sits in heaven on the right side of God. Keep the Faith. Amen. Song I am a Soldier of the Cross UMH 511 A Back to School Prayer Heavenly Father, we come before you with hearts full of gratitude for the new school year and the opportunities it brings. We ask for your presence and blessing upon our students, teachers, and staff as they begin this journey. We pray for our students, that you would grant them curious minds, a love for learning, and the ability to grasp new concepts with clarity and understanding. We ask for your protection over them, both physically and emotionally, shielding them from harm and helping them to build positive and supportive relationships. May they find joy in their studies and grow in wisdom and knowledge throughout the year. We also pray for our teachers and staff, that you would equip them with wisdom, patience, and compassion as they guide and nurture our young people. May they be a source of inspiration and encouragement, fostering a love of learning and a positive classroom environment. We pray for families, that you would grant them strength, peace, and patience as they navigate the challenges and joys of the new school year. May they find opportunities to connect with their children, support their learning, and build strong family bonds. Lord, we ask for your blessing upon our schools, that they may be safe havens of learning and growth for all. May your presence be felt in every classroom and hallway, guiding and protecting all who enter. We thank you for your faithfulness and for hearing our prayers. We ask all these things in your precious name. Amen. (Google AI) Lord’s Prayer Back to School Hymn God of all Learning (See Insert) Bless backpacks Stewardship Moment Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Community Time – Joys and Concerns Benediction Additional Illustrations There's an old legend told among the peoples of the Hebrides. It's the legend of the god of the sea, who always wanted a child of his own, a human child. And once it almost happened. They were going between the islands, some of the peoples, in small canoes. And the ocean god tossed his waves, causing one of the canoes to capsized. The passengers fell into the water and a young boy among them almost drowned, though they fetched him back from the waters. "But," said the god, "I shall not worry, for I was able to toss a wavelet into the little one's heart. He will come back to me, because the sea is in his soul." It's like a short story by H. G. Wells, "The Door in the Wall." A little boy, about six years old, is wandering about, and he comes to this white wall and there's a green door in it. He opens the door, and when he goes in, he enters a country of enchantment ” a world of charm, where he's perfectly loved, and fully accepted. And he wants to stay there, but for some reason he can't. For the rest of his life he's haunted by that country. He's haunted by that place where he was most himself. And he spends his life trying to find it again. What are the question marks in your life? What are you asking? "Does my life have meaning? Is there a purpose for it all?" Do you know what those questions are? They're the echo of eternity, still bobbing in your soul. They're the call of the Western Sea, and they're the enchantment of heaven. And the meaning of your life, the full meaning of your life, is still ahead of you. Because you won't find all the answers to your questions till you cross the River Jordan, till you open the door in the wall that Jesus has unlocked. There, by the grace of God, all questions will become one question. And this is the question you will hear. It's the question Jesus posed to Peter one day. It's the question at the heart of every other question: Simon, do you love me? Child of eternity, do you love me? And when we find the answer to that question, the rest of our questions form the doxology. And there we will be: Lost in wonder, love and praise! Dynamic Preaching, Collected Sermons, by Wayne Brouwer Have you heard the story about a man who slipped and fell while trying to clean the limbs from his roof? He slid down the steep shingles, slipped over the eave, and barely managed to grab hold of the gutters. Dangling there three stories from the earth, the man looked to the heavens above and shouted “My God can any body help me?" Suddenly time stopped, the clouds parted and a voice from heaven said, “Have faith, turn loose." The man took one more glance at the ground below, then looked back to the heavens and said, “Is there anybody else up there who could help me?" Phillips Brooks came up with this acrostic from the word F-A-I-T-H. Faith stands for “Forsaking All, I Take Him." Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand, but “Forsaking all, I take Him." Many things that happen today are more than I can comprehend, but “Forsaking all, I take Him." Many things about yesterday continue to drag me down, but “Forsaking all, I take Him." When living by faith I feel no alarm, “Forsaking all, I take Him." LOOK UP, LET GO, TAKE THE LEAP OF FAITH. ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., Faith Breaks, by J. Howard Olds Richard Black said, “What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls a butterfly." In Verse 13 we read, “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance." It is a leap of faith when you believe there's someone out there. It's a leap of faith when you believe that someone cares. The last year has taught me to live by faith. I don't know about tomorrow. The problem with life is that it has an “if" right in the middle of it, but I know who holds tomorrow and today I choose to live. I want every second, minute, hour; I want to live today. For years I've been telling the story about Desert Pete. A man was dying of thirst when he came upon a pump right out in the middle of the desert. There was a baking soda can tied to the handle with this note inside, “This pump was all right the last time I used it. I put a new sucker washer into it which ought to last a good long while, but the washer dries out and the pump has to be primed. Under the white rock I buried a bottle of water. It's out of the sun and all corked up. There's enough in it to prime the pump, but not if you drink some first. So pour about a quarter of the water in and let it soak to wet the leather. Then pour in the rest medium fast and pump like crazy. You'll get water. Have faith. When you get all you want, fill her up for the next fella. Signed, Desert Pete. P.S. Don't go drinking up the water first, you have to prime the pump." II. TO HAVE FAITH IS TO MAKE A LEAP. Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in the movie, The Last Crusade, is searching for the Holy Grail—the cup reported to have been used by Christ at the Last Supper. He comes at last to a cliff's edge and a vast cavern beneath him. The Holy Grail is on the other side. Surveying the situation Indiana Jones says, “It really is a leap of faith." Yes, Jim, Joe, Janice, Joy—it really is a leap of faith. Are you willing to jump For years I've been telling the story abo Psychologists say—look within. Opportunists say—look around. Optimists say—look ahead. Pessimists say—look out. Christianity says—LOOK UP. Look all the way up until you gaze into the eyes of the One who is looking for you. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of your faith. Where was the victory for Abraham? When he took that first step on his journey to Canaan and claimed God's promise. The rest was commentary. Where was the victory for David? When he took that first step forward, bent to pick up a rock and claimed God's promise. The rest was commentary. Where was the victory for Noah? When he took that first step and drove the first nail into the ark and claimed God's promise. The rest was commentary. Where was the victory for Moses? When he took that first step away from Pharaoh's family and joined his own people and claimed God's promise. The rest was commentary. Where was the victory for Joshua? When he took that first step on his march around Jericho's walls and blew the first blast of air into that trumpet. The rest was commentary. Where was the victory for Nehemiah? When he took that first step and laid down the first new stone on Jerusalem's walls and claimed God's promise. The rest was commentary. Where was the victory for Esther? When she took that first step down the aisle towards King Ahasuerus and claimed God's promise. The rest was commentary. Where was the victory for Jeremiah? When he took that first step and bought a tiny plot of ground and claimed God's promise. The rest was commentary. Where was the victory for Daniel? When he took that first step into Nebuchadnezzar's presence and claimed God's promise. The rest was commentary. We, too, must first take that step in faith. Faith is the victory. We must trust our Lord and our Savior enough to step out by faith instead of by sight. For the past few weeks, we have articulated a new vision for this congregation focused on “touching hearts and transforming lives." We have organized our church and deployed our staff to embrace a mission of inviting, worshiping, discipling, serving, and healing. We have built castles in the air. Now it is time to put foundations under them. What keeps dreams from dying at daybreak? What enables a vision to be fulfilled in the heat of the day? This passage in Hebrews suggests two things: being faithful and being focused. Second, Paul makes a leap of faith here, he says: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely." You see, while we carry this backpack full our "guys" and "girls," the heroes of our lives and faith. We also use that backpack to carry all the garbage of life, too. Because just like in every well told or well written story, there are heroes and there are villains; protagonists and antagonists. B. The hard part of our work of faith, is perseverance. Perseverance not just in the hard times, but in the easy times when things are going good, when we are feeling blessed. That's when we really gain strength. I'm not a runner but I know that you don't start out running the marathon. You start out running short distances, then run the 5k and then the 10k and keep adding distance to your run until you are a marathon runner. And then you begin trying to shave time off of that run. You do what ever it takes, you persevere. There is a Norwegian Proverb that says: "A hero is one who knows how to hang on one minute longer." Heroes of Faith are those who work and hang on until Christ says it's time to stop. And that's what Paul means here. We do what it takes to win the race of fait. We continue to hang on every day. Conclusion The truth is: You are the hero of your own story. You can choose which type of hero you want to be the anti-hero, the hero-turned villain, the valiant hero, the quiet hero who rises to the occasion and quietly slips back into the ordinary. But you are the hero of your own story. You determine what gets written on the page of the story. You determine how you play the role. You are the hero, the director, the writer and the villain. You choose what happens in your life. And that choice is made possible by the heroes you collect. You choose which "guys" and which "girls" go into the backpack of your life. And ultimately, you choose whether or not to accept the labels which have been stuck to your mirror. Because the WINNER of the great race of Faith, Jesus, the Son of God who died on the cross for your sake, has offered to clean your mirror up so you can look in the mirror and see His reflection. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith." 1.Devotional Companion by Jeffrey Rasche. Abingdon Press, 1996. Pages 57-58. CSS Publishing Company, Inc., From the Pulpit, by Billy D. Strayhorn Well, it was getting ridiculous. Still, you’ve got to admire the man’s steadfast faith. You and I would have raised a few questions with God long before this. Yet there is an element of biblical faith in this man’s attitude. Not that everything that happens is an act of God. That’s not true. Some things just happen. We live in a universe of cause and effect. That’s the way God created it. We live by certain scientific laws. If you drop a book, it’s going to fall. If your toe is in the way, it’s going to get hit. And if it is a big book, it’s going to hurt. God didn’t cause that. It was an accident. Or perhaps, it was negligence on your part. But don’t blame God. Biblical faith gives God praise even in the midst of adversity because we know God is with us. FAITH IS AN ATTITUDE ABOUT LIFE. The biblical character Job questioned the reasons for his suffering, just as any of us would. But still he was able to praise God. Faith is a steadfast attitude about life. God is with me. Therefore I can endure any circumstance no matter how trying. Pastor Edward Markquart tells about three pictures that were published sometime back in a newspaper. Each of the pictures was of a man named Bill Sheridan. The first picture was Bill and his wife and their seven-month-old twins standing on a third floor balcony. Flames of shooting fire and billowing smoke could be seen behind this family. The caption beneath the picture read, “Throw the child.” The flames were crackling behind them; the parents were almost paralyzed with fear, and someone was shouting to them from below, “Throw the child. Throw the children.” The next picture showed Bill Sheridan throwing his seven-month-old child into the air, and the caption said, “We will catch them.” The third picture was of the family--mother, father, two infant children--huddled together in safety, with the burning apartment in the background. They were crying with joy and fear. With a fire behind them and a forty-foot drop in front of them, they had literally made a leap of faith. (3) Peter Haynes tells a story about a woman named Judy. Like the unlucky man at the beginning of our message, Judy was the kind of person for whom everything always seemed to go wrong. If Judy went skiing, she would fall and fracture a leg or an arm. If she were walking down a country lane on a bright summer day and paused to lean on the end of a long picketed fence--it would topple, falling to the ground in one sweeping motion. Something always went wrong for Judy. One day she decided to bake bread. She took out the recipe and carefully gathered all the ingredients it called for, then followed it, step by step. There was a slight problem, however. Instead of adding one cake of yeast to the mix as required, she added one whole box--several cakes of yeast. You can imagine what happened. The dough began to grow and grow and grow. She added more flour--and it kept growing and growing. She added more water, and it kept growing. More salt, more wheat germ, more oil--and it just kept growing and growing. She tried cutting the mound of dough in half, pounding it, pleading with it--and it kept growing and growing and growing. Finally, in desperation, Judy went out and buried the huge lump of dough in her front yard. Within an hour, her father came bursting through the front door screaming: “THERE’S SOMETHING GROWING IN OUR FRONT YARD!!!” You know what happened. The heat of the sun beat down on that ill fated mound of dough--that unbaked loaf--even though it was buried in the ground, and brought the yeast back to life. It started growing again and BURST out of the ground! Even its grave couldn’t contain it, so irresistible was the life of that yeast which Judy had mixed in her bread dough. (6) I see Judy’s experience as a parable of the life of faith. Faith is a gift which must be received. Once we receive it and come to depend upon it, we discover that it is self-validating, and thus it grows and grows until it can overcome any obstacle, even death. “By faith Noah built . . .” and “By faith Abraham went . . .” and by faith, you and I can live victorious lives. I love an old story about a businessman who was in a strange city. He had an appointment late in the day, but in the meantime he had some time to kill. Driving around town in his rental car, he passed a little-league baseball game. He decided to stop and watch it for a while. He was standing just outside the third-base line. When there was a lull in the action, he asked the boy playing third base, "What's the score." The boy replied, "We're behind 18 to nothing." "That's strange," said the man. "You don't look discouraged." "Why should it be?" said the boy. "We haven't come to bat yet." Don't you love that spirit?! No matter how far we may be behind at the moment, we never give up or despair. With God on our side, there is always another comeback in us. The classic story of the tortoise and the hare illustrates the point. The tortoise won the race because he ran it with patience. The hare did not take the race seriously, was not conditioned for it, was careless and casual about its importance, and had no deep desire to do his best. To his chagrin, he lost the race he so easily should have won. The tortoise, plodding and persistent, enduring and determined, moved unswervingly toward the goal and won his laurels because he was prepared to achieve. He had the patience and the will to win. Despite the rocky relationship, occasionally there were glimpses of the man my Dad could have been. I remember one in particular. I couldn't' have been much older than 7 or 8. But Dad had a friend from work who was a giant of a man, at least to me. If I had to guess, from pictures I've seen, I'd say he was about 6' 6' or so. My Dad was only 5' 8" so it made for a comical sight, kind of like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito in the movie "Twins." I'm not sure but I think his name was Buck. And he was muscled like nobody else I've ever known. One weekend Dad and Buck and I went to this huge apple tree to pick apples. I picked up apples off the ground. Dad and Buck picked everything they could reach in the tree. And then I remember my Dad telling to climb the tree, pick the apples and toss them down. The problem was, I was so little, I couldn't even reach the first fork in the tree to start climbing. I also remember my Dad getting down on one knee with the other one out like a rung on a ladder. He stood next to Buck who took my hand while I climbed up Dad's leg, then his shoulders and onto Buck's shoulders and then into the tree, just like a set of stairs. I was a little monkey back then and once in the tree I didn't have any problem. I got to thinking about that in relationship to this passage from Hebrews. A saint is someone whose very life lifts you onto their shoulders so you can go higher and farther in this relationship with God. They lift you onto their shoulders so you get closer to the Kingdom of Heaven. Felix was a Cuban postman who decided that his duties as a mailman had prepared him for the Olympic marathon race. Since Cuba had no team at that time, Felix had to personally finance his trip. He did this primarily by running around and around the town square until a crowd gathered. Then he would give a fund-raising speech and accept contributions. When he finally had enough money to travel to the Games which were held that year in St. Louis, he resigned his job and set sail for New Orleans. Once ashore in New Orleans, he encountered a man who robbed him of nearly everything he had. Undeterred, he set out to run from New Orleans to St. Louis. Begging food along the way, he finally arrived in St. Louis half starved. The news of his determination arrived before he did and many fellow athletes rallied to his support. Robbed of his running gear, he cut out the arms and legs of his clothing to accommodate the intense heat and humidity of St. Louis. A fellow athlete loaned him a pair of sneakers for the race, but Felix insisted on running in his postman’s boots. His unusual athletic wear was a sight. I get blisters just thinking about it. Because of the oppressive heat, many of the 31 marathon runners did not even finish the race. But Felix was steadfast in his determination and ran far ahead of the pack. Unfortunately, as he passed an orchard he picked an apple and ate it as he ran. The apple gave him such a stomach cramp he had to sit on a curb to recover while others passed him. Even so, once recovered, Felix came roaring back into the race and finished fourth! (3) That’s determination, the kind of determination you and I need as we run the marathon of life. Some of us may finish the race like Felix in ill-fitting uniforms and worn-out boots. But with God’s help we will finish we will hang in there because a great cloud of witnesses is cheering us on. We will win, not because of who we are, but because of what we believe, that God is with us. God does not give up on us and we will not give up on God. And at the end, we will be victorious. "Going the distance" is a noble achievement. Many begin races that they never finish. It is always disheartening to a pastor to see middle-aged people drop out of the church "after the children are grown." Even more astounding is to see a person who has been a dedicated officer drop out of church when he or she yields a position of influence to another. "Going the distance...." That is part of the reason we join together as a body in Christ. Sometimes the race gets hard. We need each other for encouragement and inspiration. But there is one more thing to be said. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfector of our faith...." There is someone else who has run the race before us. He has pioneered the way. He is our example, our model, our inspiration. That One is Jesus. When Roger Bannister ran the first four-minute mile many years ago, he accomplished something that many people said could not be done. But he did it. Now many athletes have run the mile in less than four minutes. Someone needed to show us that it could be done. Life is a marathon. We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. Our chief impediment is sin. The victory goes to those who are faithful to the finish. Our only hope is to look to Jesus who has run the race before us. Following his example and with his help, we can win the crown of victory. Pastor John Ortberg once said something that I think is enormously important. He was speaking on the biblical admonition to train for godliness. Here is what he said: "There is an enormous difference between trying to do something versus training to do it." Training means dedicating oneself to regular practice and discipline. Anyone can try to compete in the Tour de France bicycle race, for example. They might kill themselves in the process, but they can try it. Only someone like Lance Armstrong, who trains every day for the competition, can succeed. Are you "trying" to be a follower of Christ or are you "training" to be a follower of Christ? (2) Their story can be our story. For GOD IS STILL IN THE BUSINESS OF CREATING HEROES. A young man was listening as the great Boston preacher Phillips Brooks talked of the great days of the past when the United States was a growing nation. He told about the time when brave explorers traveled into areas that had not been explored. He told of those who risked, and sometimes gave, their lives as they helped develop the country. The young man heard Bishop Brooks tell of those who gave their lives that others might have liberty to study the Bible and obey God. These stories thrilled this youth and he said to the bishop, "I wish I had lived those far-off days; I think I too could have been a hero." The bishop replied, "My boy, every age brings its opportunity, and if you cannot be a hero now, you would not have been a hero then." God is still in the business of creating heroes. You and I can be heroic if we choose. Of what kind of stuff are heroes made? There are many ingredients of course that go to make up a hero. Let's center on the three most important.

What is more Important than Christ for you?

July 27, 2025 Colossians 2: 6-19 What is more important than Christ for you? 7th Sunday after Pentecost Year C Prelude Greeting Call to Worship (in response to Psalm 85) One: In the heat of summer we gather, seeking to be restored by God to our full humanity. Many: May God revive us, so we might rejoice in each day of life. One: Today may we hear as God is still speaking peace to us and to the whole of God’s creation. Many: Today may we recognize where steadfast love and faithfulness meet. One: Even as we worship, we trust the Lord will give us what is good. Many: Together let’s celebrate God’s salvation for each and for all! (Disciples of Christ Center of Faith and Giving) Opening Prayer God of our salvation, as we gather today, renew in us a deep awareness of your desire to make a path for us. You yearn to speak peace to us and to the world you have created. In our worship, we claim your promise to forgive us and draw us back to you. So speak your steadfast love to us once more, that your glory may dwell in us and in our land. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Song I want Jesus to Walk with Me UMH 521 A Sermon for all Ages Established in the Faith By Lois Parker Edstrom The Bible teaches us to become “established in the faith” (2:7). Do you have an idea of what this means? We know that “faith” is our belief in God. It means that we accept his love. What does it mean to become established in the faith? That may be a difficult question. Let’s think about other things that become established. I think of schools. Schools don’t just happen. Someone has to have the idea to build a school. Then work needs to be done to actually build the school. The school needs to have good teachers and a plan to offer important classes and teach many different things in an interesting way. After all of this has happened and continues for a period of time, we can say that a school has been established. People continue to come to the school to learn exciting new things; the school grows and becomes better and better. To become “established in the faith” first you decide to accept God’s love. Then you must decide to study and pray and become strong in what you believe. Each day, as you give thanks for God’s love, and share that love with others, you become established in your faith. You grow and learn more and more about God. Just like a plant that grows in good soil, you become “rooted and built up” in God (2:7). You become established in your faith. Scripture quotations from the World English Bible Copyright 2012, Richard Niell Donovan Colossians 2:6-7 hand movements • Therefore as you have received – cross hands over heart • Christ Jesus the Lord – spread hands out • So walk in him – walk with hands • Rooted and built up in him – 2 opposite fist • And established in the faith – open hands with fist • Just as you were taught – bring palms together • Abounding in thankgiving – hands in the air • Walk with him – walk with hands Affirmation of faith (from The Confession of 1967) In Jesus Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself. We confess that Jesus Christ is God with us, the eternal Son of the Father, who became human and lived among us to fulfill the work of reconciliation. We believe that the risen Christ is present in the church by the power of the Holy Spirit to continue and complete his mission. This work of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is the foundation of all we say about God, ourselves, and the world. (Presbyterian Outllook) Passing of the Peace Prayer for Illumination Almighty God, your Word is our comfort in distress. It holds your prom- ises that give us life. Give us ears to hear your hope and call. In the name of Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh, we pray. Amen. (Presbyterian Outlook, Philip Gladden) Scripture Colossians 2:6-19 Sermon What is more important than Christ for you? Quite frankly, I know a lot of people who just don’t care for Paul’s teachings. Sometimes he can be a little dated, and patriarchal in his teachings. He truly believes that everything that he says is just for males. It is Paul who says that women should be silent in church. If they have a question, then they should discuss it with their husband when they get home. He says that women are not allowed to be teachers, especially not to men. And now in this scripture passage he says that we have all been spiritually circumcised through Christ. He says that we have been circumcised not by human hands, but the whole body was removed by Christ. I am not even sure of what that means, and for half of the population that is just not a helpful metaphor. I think that Paul is really trying to help us to think of ways that we are connected to the divine in our lives. What are the things that put us in touch with Christ? Luckily he goes on to use to other important ways to connect to Christ – baptism and prayer. Baptism is a sacrament – a sacrament is something that opens the door for God’s grace to work in our lives. Now I move to a very crucial point in our understanding. Baptism is not only a means of grace for the one baptized. It is a means of grace for the whole church. Whether it is the baptism of an infant or the baptism of an adult – the entire congregation celebrating that baptism goes back to the memory and meaning of their own baptism. Examining themselves to see what degree they have kept the faith into which they were baptized, and how firmly they have clung to the cross which purchased their salvation. In a practical sense, the whole church undergoes baptism whenever some person is baptized. I plead with you – to capture that meaning of baptizing. When we baptize an infant, as we’ll do later today in the church, or when we baptize an adult or a young person – we should do, each one of us, should do within our own consciousness again what we may have experienced unconsciously when as infants we were baptized. Or we should recall when we self-consciously made our decision of faith, our commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. That means, my friends, that you are never a spectator to baptism. Never. You assist in baptism. You not only assist, you participate in baptism. We take up our baptism again, remembering who we are, named as God’s people. Dear old Martin Luther, whenever he was depressed and undergoing strong attack from the devil, or sensed his courage and spiritual strength failing, he would lay his hands on his head and say aloud to himself, I am baptized. And so do we, and our identity through baptism becomes a means of grace. I close with this. In the earliest baptismal liturgies, after the person had been baptized, he or she appeared before the bishop. The bishop embraced the new Christian then did something of great significance – the bishop dipped his finger into oil and made the sign of the cross on the Christian’s forehead. This was known as the signation, the signature. The sign of the cross upon a person’s forehead was like a brand to show ownership. As sheep are marked to show ownership, so Christians are marked by baptism to show who owns them and to what flock they belong. By baptism, Christians are branded to show who chose them and who now owns them. Remember your baptism. Maxie Dunnam, MaxieDunnam.com, by Maxie Dunnam When we are baptized, not only do we put Christ on like a garment. But we are also given a new spirit, new energy and we have access to an unlimited supply of inspiration and support to help us with any situation that we may face in life. Baptism gives a purpose in life, and a legacy to pass on to others. Prayer is another way to connect to the divine. Prayer is our way of communicating with God and listening to what God has to say. There is a bumper sticker which says ‘Life is fragile, handle with prayer”. There is evidence that many people in America heed that advice. While 42 percent of Americans state that they attend worship. More than half of all Americans say that they pray at least twice daily. 75 percent say that prayer makes a difference in their life. And nine out of ten say that they have prayed at some point in their lives. While the statistics are great. They do not reveal the attitude which some people pray, or to whom the prayers are address to. Many people who say that they pray, do not know how to pray as Jesus instructed us in the bible. Just like many of the people who drive cars everyday, still don’t know the rules of the road. When it comes to genuine prayer where are feel connected to God, we still have a long way to go. Paul wants us to think of the ways that we connect to the divine. There is prayer, baptism, there is worship, or mission service, or fellowship, forgiveness, love, grace. Anything that helps us to grow in faith – helps us to connect. This part of the passage above the white space is about matters of the heart. These two verses are about our relationship to the risen Christ. They are about building our faith, a sense of trust that comes from within us. A recovering drug addict, writing to her pastor about the faith she and her husband — also an addict — had found, described faith in terms as eloquent as we can find anywhere. For us, faith is not a warm, comforting, fuzzy, feel good. Faith was gritting our teeth, walking through the agony and helplessness of addiction recovery, and continuing to put one foot in front of the other, doing what we were told was the right thing to do, and trusting, praying, and hoping that God was in control, that our tortuous journey would end, and that on the other side was a life worth living. Faith happens when we are at our most desperate moments, and we hold our heads up, doing what we hear God tell us in our hearts, and trusting that he will take care of us. Faith is not smarmy and glowing with happiness. It is an action, not words. It is a very small space we go to within ourselves, among all the bad emotions and feelings and self-loathing — a place that we cling to, while listening to that small voice, the voice of a loving, forgiving power greater than ourselves, outside of ourselves, that will, eventually heal the bad, walk us through the emotions, help us feel better about who we are and what we stand for.1 I was watching a news story this week about two nuns who has started a ministry to help migrants in Chicago to get established. One of the nuns passed away and the other wanted to give a tribute to her. She talked about how committed she was to the ministry. She talked about her faith in Christ. She said that the last words that she has said to the nun as she was dying to hospice – when you get to heaven and you are face to face with Christ. Pray for us, pray for the ministry and whatever you do, don’t take no for an answer. Pray fervently and tell God, that God has no choice but to bless us. Tell God that there are some faithful people who need you down here on earth – and tell God that God has to help him. I was impressed, because it taught me that is what prayer, baptism and faith is all about – not taking no for an answer- trusting in God in all circumstances. What are the ways that you connect to the divine in your life? What are your prayers? Where is your faith. Paul really didn’t mean any harm in his teaching. He wanted us to just get in touch with our faith and the ways in which we know that God is there. He wanted to make sure that when we go through life, that we are deeply rooted in christ when challenges come. Life is not easy and if we are not careful we can easily become discouraged. We can easily wonder if God really cares. Paul reminds us that Christ was there, granting us grace way before our problems came along. And that we should not only remember our faith, we should put Christ first in everything that we do. A recent pew research center study projects that the number of Christians in the US might decrease from 64 percent to between 54 and 35 percent by 2070. At the same time, the number of religious nones is expected to rise from the current 30 percent to somewhere between 34 and 52 percent. Christianity faces a lot of challenges. Faith is no longer becoming important in our society. There are many reasons why the church is no longer relevant. – the secular world is taking over, politics is creeping into the church, people are distrustful of clergy and others, church scandals are rampant, people are disillusioned with religion. The reasons mount up each day. But Paul’s message to us, there is nothing new under the sun, those things were happening back then. Paul tells us that the greatest way to stop that – is to stay established in the faith. Our children’s sermon tells us – to live in Christ Jesus the Lord in the same way as you received him. Be rooted and built up in him, be established in the daith and overflow with thanksgiving as you were taught. Verses 6 and 7 tell us to live in the faith that we were taught. Verse 8 tells us to not get caught up into our own beliefs. When we get discouraged, then we start to accept that is just how life is and there is nothing that we can do about it. We start to believe the statistics. And we forget not to take no for an answer. Our own faith starts to have to compete with other things going on in the world. How can we get others to come back to church? First, we have to stay rooted in our on faith. Before God can make a difference in someone elses life, God has to be the center of our life. Prayer, fellowship, study, worship, social justice, and helping others are wonderful as long as they don’t become a means to an end. Everything that we do has to be in the name of Jesus Christ. We do it not because it is important, but because Christ calls us. Christ is the center of everything that we do. Christ is the anchor of our lives. A few months ago I received a letter which illustrates this in a poignant way. Let me say something parenthetically before I share the letter. This past week, dear Dr. Grant, founding pastor of this church, our Minister Emeritus, said to me with tear mists of joy in his eyes -- "A revival is taking place in this church." I believe that friends. Persons' lives are being changed. Persons are seeking to bring their lives into harmony with God's Will -- they are changing their life styles. Literally, miracles are taking place in our midst -- This letter witnesses to one of them: "Dear Maxie: I am writing you this to let you know I heard your sermon on "With or Without Miracles" on Christmas. God has done a great miracle for me everyday. This past fall I attempted suicide. I thought life was not worth living and that I had no purpose for being alive. But since then I have had people come forward and tell me how I have shown them to go on when things get tough. They have told me I have courage that many people don't have. And these people knew nothing about my attempted suicide. And God has given me friends that each day watch out for me. I still don't know why I am here but I know that God has a plan and a purpose for me or else He would have let me die this past fall. He would also not have sent friends to me that told me they love me and that I make a difference in their lives. So I thank God for working a miracle in my life by saving it and for giving me the miracle of friends. So God does exist and He does come through when you need Him the most. I had rather not leave my name, but I am a Christian that is fighting for life with the help of God. The past is dead, the future is alive -- and I praise God!" So, to live a life hidden with Christ in God, we are united in Christ's death. I like that In Christ, the past is dead, the future is alive and I praise God! So it is with us: cross-centered purpose gives us meaning. Viktor Frankl was a psychiatrist who spent two years in a Nazi concentration camp. Out of that experience he discovered and developed logotherapy, a therapeutic approach to healing and health, by discovering meaning. Meaning, he says, comes from three sources: love, suffering, and doing a deed. All of these are gathered upin the cross and in the cross-life to which we are called. No wonder Paul could sing, "I rejoice in my sufferings" (v. 24). Because of the love he had received from the cross, his purpose was to love, even if that called for suffering. The cross was the driving force of his life.His burning desire was for all persons to experience the love of Jesus Christ which he had experienced. The cross gave him meaning for it gave him the cause for which to live and die. Finally I want to leave you with this poem to ponder You remember that old poem: Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today; He has no feet but our feet to lead men in His way; He has no lips but our lips to tell men how He died; He has no help but our help to bring them to His side. What Christ has been and done for us, we must be and do for others. Let everything that we do be in the spirit of Christ. Let’s Pray……. Song It is Well with my Soul UMH 377 PRAYER OF INTERCESSION Just God, we sense your anger at the injustice that thrives in the world. We share your grief at the discord that rages among your children, the rejection of those who bear your image, and the oppression of those you know by name. We turn toward you for strength and guidance to turn away from the norms of this world, the lure of self-righteousness, and the appeal of comfort over justice. Embolden us to believe that another world is possible and empower us to participate in its creation. Amen. Written by Rev. Dr. Cheryl Lindsay, Copyright 2022 Faith INFO Ministry Team. https://www.ucc.org/worship-way/after-pentecost-c-july-24-2022/. Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment What are the ways that we connect to the divine power in our lives, what the are ways that we can feel close to God. We can care about the things that God cares about, we can follow the teachings of Jesus, we can put God first, we can worship God with all that we are. We now come to our time of giving, and we have a chance to do all of those things. We are in the misdt of summer and our stewardhip drive. There are many avenues to give to God and to make a difference. We can give what we have – and know that God’s blessings and grace makes the most of it. Jesus often makes comparisons from the lesser to the greater. In Luke 11, we hear the comparison from the way parents give to children to the ways God will give the Spirit to all who ask. Think of the best parents you know… (Your own parents? Perhaps your children as parents or others right in our midst?) Now, let’s make the comparison. As marvelous as THESE parents are as they provide for their children, how much more will God provide for those who seek God’s favor? Because God loves and provides for us, we’re invited to share that love, translating abundant agape into our morning tithes and gifts. See? These symbols of coin, check and electronic deposits come from the labor of our hearts, hands and minds. When collected, they allow us to care not only for our church community, but for others who yearn to share in God’s abundance. With joy-filled spirits, let us share in our morning offering. Prayer of Thanksgiving God, thank you for our daily bread, and for so much more which you provide. Thank you for this opportunity to return a portion of what we’ve been given. Open our eyes to see your love made visible. Open our spirits to respond in love to the needs which surround us.9 May we clearly see each sister and brother in Christ and respond to each one in love, remembering all are made in your image. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Sharefest Closing Prayer for Facebook Go, into the world Proclaiming the many names of the Sovereign God Living the lessons of Good News Sharing in support and solidarity Opening doors And giving good gifts (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Cheryl Lindsay) Community Time Joys and Concerns The results of the vote Pam’s brother. Benediction Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. (Presbyterian Outlook, Philip Gladden) Additional Illustrations Rehearse what I’ve said. To be alive in Christ means: 1) not only is the presence of God in Jesus Christ only to be experienced on occasion, the indwelling Christ is to become the shaping power of our lives; 2) what Christ has been and done for us, we must be and do for others; and 3) the working power of God in the past is to be brought into the present. Someone wrote of Mother Theresa: “She gave her life first to Christ then through Christ to her neighbors. That was the end of her biography and the beginning of her life.” So I’m going to continue my ritual, “Maxie, the secret is simply this, Christ in you, yes, Christ in you, bringing with Him the hope of all the glorious things to come.” Maybe -- just maybe -- my biography will end and my life will begin -- as I become more alive in Christ. MaxieDunnam.com, MaxieDunnam.com, by Maxie Dunnam I heard a cute story about one pastor who told his congregation that there were 700 different sins listed in the Bible. That afternoon he received three dozen requests for the list. Everybody wanted to know what they were missing out on! Paul tries to turn this whole thing around and calls the people to forget the notion of rules and to simply begin living in relationship to Christ. Paul tells them that rules have no ability to change the heart, but a life that looks to Christ will soon turn around and reflect his glory. Think about a person in your life that you care deeply about. Haven't you made it a point to learn all about them? Don't you want to spend time with them, listening to what they have to say? It is natural to want to be with the one you love and know all about them. So it is with Christ. When you stop wanting to know all there is to know, you better watch out. It is a sign that the embers of love are beginning to burn out. Paul reminds us that if we want to find out what pleases God, then we need to be sitting at his feet. In his book, The Gospel For The Person Who Has Everything, William Willimon tells of a young friend, age 4, who was asked on the occasion of his 5th birthday what kind of party he wanted to have. I want everybody to be a king and queen, Clayton said. So, he and his mother went to work, fashioning a score of silver crowns – cardboard and aluminum foil, purple robes – crepe paper, and royal scepters – sticks painted gold. On the day of the party, as the guests arrived, they were each given a royal crown, a robe, and a scepter, and were thus dressed as a king or a queen. It was a royal site - all kings and queens. Everyone had a wonderful time. They ate ice cream and cake, they had a procession up to the top of the block and back again, and then when it was all over, everyone knew it had been a royal, wonderful day. That evening as Clayton’s mom tucked him into bed, she asked him what he wished for when he blew the candles out on the birthday cake. I wished, he said, that everyone, everyone in the whole wide world could be a king and a queen. Not just on my birthday, but everyday. My friend Willimon closed this story by saying, well Clayton, baptism shows that something very much like that happened one day at a place called Calvary. We who were nobodies became somebodies. Those who were no people became God’s people. The wretched of the earth became royalty. Two or three years ago, I saw the death door at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. Some of you may remember that the great Pope John XXIII, bless his memory, commissioned the eminent artist, Geacoma Manza, to sculpt a new door for that great basilica, and the artist depicted on that door a series of death scenes. There was death by falling, death in war, the martyred death of Peter upside down on the cross, and others. Death by drowning is there, death by water. And I reasoned as I looked at that door, that this was behind the sculptor’s theme – we enter the church by death. Baptism – our acted entrance into the church is by water. So death by water is a challenging and authentic understanding of baptism. The early church even built its baptismal fonts in the shape of tombs to make that meaning graphic. So we cannot underscore the meaning of baptism too much if we’re going to save ourselves from approaching casually that event in a person’s life which is so crucial. Being buried with Christ in baptism – having the sign and the seal of our salvation placed upon us with water and the laying on of hands. Haven't we all known Christians with whom we disagreed, but whose trust, thankfulness and joy we admired? Haven't we known people who faced grief, or disability, or some setback in life with courage and serenity? Didn't they inspire us, even if we didn't see eye to eye with them on every point of biblical interpretation or theology? A pastor friend once told me of a woman named Betty who came to every Bible study the church offered. She and the pastor frequently disagreed on interpretation, but my friend said that her faith was moving. She had arthritis, causing pain with every step she took. Nevertheless, her face glowed with a deep joy that came from within. She taught her pastor that verses 6-7 unite all Christians. Now, if we leap across the chasm between verse 7 and verse 8, we are in different territory. We are not so much in the realm of our hearts as in the realm of our heads, our intellect. We are not talking so much about the sense of trust, joy, and faith that we feel deep in our souls as we are about what we think in our heads. What we think in our heads is not totally unrelated to what we believe in our hearts. If we believe in an implacably angry God with our heads, we may feel the wrong kind of fear of God in our hearts. We will not have the fear of God that is healthy respect, but the fear that sees God as unapproachable. Nevertheless, two Christians can have different belief systems and still have deep faith in their hearts. Here, Colossians urges us to be careful about what we think. When we probe to the core depths of our being, when we get down to the base level of our identity, we discover four absolute needs, apart from physical survival needs. There are burning emotional/spiritual/relational needs which, when unmet, leave us less than whole, often crippled, sometimes sick to the point of being cut off from reality. The needs are common to all persons. Even though we may not use the same words to label them, the reality is the same. The needs are 1. To receive forgiveness 2. To love and be loved 3. To experience community 4. To have a cause for which to live and die. Other descriptions of our needs -- acceptance, affirmation, security and freedom, purposefulness and self-esteem -- are rooted in these four. The Cross meets us at the point of these deepest needs. Let's explore these. One day, another girl at the orphanage came to the superintendent to report that the girl was sending notes to someone on the outside. The superintendent thanked the child for the information, and asked her to come and tell them if it ever happened again. Two days later, the girl returned. She reported that a note had been place in the crook of a tree just outside the door of the building. Hastily, the superintendent called one of the social workers, and they raced outside to the tree. She grabbed the note and tore open the envelope. As she read the contents of it, her face fell and her shoulders sagged. She passed the note to the social worker. It read, simply: "To whoever finds this, I love you." (Bauknight, "Love is Linkage!", September 21, 1986). Dr. Parker Palmer, one of the creative leaders in spiritual formation and Christian community, told a group of YMCA workers "about a good friend of his who labors in an especially difficult assignment at the New York Catholic Worker House. One day Dr. Palmer said to her, "All the facts that I can gather and all the feelings I have feel me this work you're trying to do is just impossible. There's no success in it. There's no gratification. The tide keeps rolling over you. Why do you keep doing it?" Looking earnestly at him, the woman answered, "Parker, the thing you don't understand is this: Just because a thing is impossible -- that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it." (Discovery YMCA, July/August 1985, p. 15). The Cross calls us to take up our cross, to pray and live the petition "Thy Kingdom come". This meets our need for a cause for which to live and die. Four of our deepest needs: for forgivenessfor lovefor communityfor a cause for which to live and die. ...all met in the Cross.Do you see it?Do you feel it? Try to picture it, again with Charles Wesley: Behold him, all ye that pass by,The bleeding Prince of life and peace!Come, sinners, see your Savior die,And say, was ever grief like his?Come, feel with me his blood applied:My Lord, my Love, is crucified.("O Love Divine, What Hast Thou Done") And how will we respond: Hopefully, with Isaac Watts, in total commitment: Were the whole realm of nature mine,That were an offering far too small;Love so amazing, so divine,Demands my soul, my life, my all.("When I Survey the Wondrous Cross") Maxie Dunnam, by Maxie Dunnam Mickey Rooney, the famous American actor, made witness to this in a television interview. Rooney has been crass, crude, often drunk in such appearances, usually angry and insulting. But the interviewer knew something had happened, and questioned Rooney about his recent past when he hit bottom emotionally and financially. Rooney calmly answered, "I don't mean to sound ecclesiastical, but recently I gave my life to the Lord Jesus Christ and now my past is gone." I heard a story recently about a boy who was walking home with his mother from church one Sunday. He had obviously listened to the preacher because he said to his mother, "Mommy, the preacher's sermon this morning confused me. Can I ask you something?" "Sure thing," replied the mother. "Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?" "Yes, that is true," the mother replied. "And he also said that God lives in us. Is that true, Mommy?" Again the mother replied, "Yes". "Well," the boy continued. "If God is bigger than us, and if God lives inside us, shouldn't He show through?"

She has to be fed first

Mark 7:24-37 16th Sunday after Pentecost Year B She has to be fed first Prelude Greeting Call to Worship Leader: Welcome, Beloved! Why have you gathered today? All: We have come to worship God, who is the maker of us all! Leader: What do you seek from God, our Creator? All: We seek God’s wisdom to guide us and show us how to live. Leader: Are you ready to follow when God’s wisdom leads down unexpected paths? All: We will trust, and we will follow wherever God’s wisdom leads us. Leader: Well then, Beloved of God, what are you waiting for? All: Come! Let us worship and seek God’s uncommon wisdom together! Amen. Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, June 2024. Opening Prayer From the depths of our hearts we reach out to you, God. We offer you our worship, for you are worthy of praise! Thank you for each one present, for each one tuning in, for all who seek to connect with you in this hour. Open the eyes of our hearts, God, that we might see you more clearly, and love you more dearly, day by day. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Song O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing UMH 57 A Sermon for all Ages Children’s Time Baptism Waters Props: Place a clear pitcher of water near the baptismal font. Today we are going to talk about how God uses water to show us how we are cared for, protected and loved. When the pastor baptizes someone, they take a pitcher of ordinary water and pour it into the baptismal font (that’s a fancy word for the bowl) and they say a prayer of blessing. They remember many times in the bible that God uses water as a sign. Sometimes it is a sign of God’s power, as in the beginning God created the water, the water in the sky we call rain and the water below we call oceans and rivers. Sometimes the water is a way God show the people that he is with them, like the time there the people were being chased by some bad people and God made a path through river so the people could get away. Sometimes water is a sign of God’s love – when Jesus was baptized he stood in a river and when he went down under the water and when he came up there was a voice that came from heaven saying that Jesus was God’s son and that he loved him very much. Today we are going to pour this water into the baptismal font, I am going to ask you to help me. Then we are going to say a prayer of thanks for the water that God created. Water that keeps us healthy, water that we use to grow food, water that we enjoy. We will thank God the protector who keeps us safe. We will thank God for all the love God shows us because we are all children of God. Come with me and lets pray together. Baptism of UMH 39 Scripture Mark 7:24-37 Sermon She has to be Fed First We have been looking at the seventh chapter of Mark. For the rest of the year, we will get a lot of the story and lessons of Jesus. This week is a continuation of last week. In chapter 7 – there is sort of a gospel challenge to see who can get the best of the other. It is not disrespectful. In the bible, it is common for people to kinda bargain with God, it’s a form of prayer. If something bad happens to you, you bargain with God, in hopes of changing God’s mind. If it is bedtime, then you banter with you parents in hopes that you can change your bed time. Last week, at the beginning of the chapter the pharisees challenge Jesus – why don’t your disciples wash your hands. Jesus is able to get the best of them, by challenging their faith. We learn a lot about our faith through Jesus comebacks and parables. Jesus is usually the winner in the gospel challenge. But in the second half of chapter 7, Jesus gets into a different challenge – where he doesn’t win. As a matter of fact Jesus’ response gets a little insulting. He intentionally travels in a territory of people who are different, one of them recognizes as a healer and asks for help and he calls her a dog. A lot of preachers make excuses for Jesus, but there is no excuse for calling a foreign woman out of her name. She moves beyond Jesus’ insult. As a matter of fact, she seems to know the rules of the gospel challenge very well. Jesus insults her, she responds with a comeback – it is through her comeback that she gets to best of Jesus. She wins. Jesus loses. Jesus says it is her faith that heals her, her courage to come back at him. It is not so much that she wins, but her love wins. She asks for healing for her daughter, she loves her daughter so much, that she has the courage to stand up in the gospel challenge. She tells Jesus that even the dogs have to eat crumbs intended for the children. A Model of Faith It may come as a shock to most Christians today, but we would do better to use this woman as a model of faith even more than the disciples. After all, we are neither Jewish nor Galilean; we have no familial claim or geographical claim to Jesus. While the woman learns that the power of faith lies internally, the disciples learn that faith can’t be measured by proximity to Jesus. They are right next to the Lord and yet they see the woman as a bother. They don’t lead her to Jesus or attempt to heal her daughter, her faith does that. They are too blinded by their social and religious prejudice to offer miracles to anyone. Jesus words are obviously not meant to cut down the woman (her compassion runs too deep to care if she is insulted). The words of Christ are meant to reprimand the disciples—and us—when our politics and religious agenda blind us to compassion. Which faith most resembles mine? Am I like the cocksure disciples steeped in religious and cultural prejudice, deeply self-assured of my proximity to Jesus? Or, am I like the outcast woman of Lebanon, indentured by compassion and uncaring of insults if I can just save one soul? Jerry Goebel, Even the Dogs Staring Up at the Sky When I re-read this story a few days ago, I couldn't help but think of Anne Lamott, the writer, who tells the story of taking her father on errands one day. His brain cancer had progressed to the point where he was reverting to some behaviors of a three-year old. Just before Anne trotted into the local bank one day, she gave Dad a candy bar and strapped him into the passenger seat of her car. There was a huge line at the teller's window where Anne was standing. So, every so often, she would run over to peek out the bank's front window to make sure that Dad was still there … as if someone was going to kidnap him or something. She writes: "The last time I looked, he wasn't there. The car was empty. I felt like adrenaline had been injected into my heart. I stared … out the window and saw this crazy old man pass by the window. His face was smeared with chocolate. He was just walking on by, holding his candy bar, staring up at the sky as if maybe his next operating instructions were up there." Jesus mysteriously stared up at the sky while massaging the tongue and the ears of a distressed man. We don't know why he was looking up and surveying the clouds. Perhaps it was as if his next operating instructions were up there. Maybe he was looking for power from God, power he did not have apart from God. Maybe God actually spoke to him at that moment and concurred with him that this particular man's bondage - his mental torture - must definitely end. Maybe Jesus was looking for help to shake the crowd he could not shake. Or maybe (and this is my best guess), maybe God was reminding Jesus that he should be ready for bystanders there to get a whole lot more excited about the physical miracle than the spiritual miracle of healing. In other words, "Get ready, Jesus, for the people to be much more infatuated by the spit and the ear poke than by the change that will be wrought in this man's spirit and attitude." Peter Marty, It's Time We Open Up! _________________________________ She knew where to go to get her help and healing. She knew that God was present in that moment, and so did Jesus. She didn’t win, love won. Through faith she was able to open up the doors of heaven. Today our lesson is about two stories of healing. They are two different stories, in two different situations. But each of them speak to us today about the power of love and faith. In the next story, Jesus is in Greek speaking part of town. And the friends of a man who is deaf bring him to Jesus. And he does something else a little disgusting, he spits and rubs it on his ears and his mouth and the man is healed. That reminds me of those time when I was little, and my mother would notice that my face was dirty and she would wet her finger with her tongue and wipe off the dirt. There was a time in my life when I was too young to notice what she was doing, and a time when I would walk away and not let her touch me. In this story, Jesus looks up to heaven for his help from God. But he also says Ephaphata – the arimaic word for open up. Jesus encourages those of us who can hear – to open up our ears and to listen. Listen to God’s voice speaking in our lives. Listen to the voice of faith telling us God is here with us. Listen to the presence of love in our lives. It is the power of love that opens up doors that are closed. Setting Lofty Goals Richard Wilkie wrote a book on the Lord's Prayer. In it, he described how Dr. Albert Schweitzer loved to play Bach on the organ. In fact, even while he was serving as a surgeon in the steamy jungles of Africa, he was still known throughout the world for his musicianship. He loved music, but he loved people more. One evening, as one of the nurses was preparing to leave, he stood at the gang plank preparing to bid her goodbye. As he took her hand he said, "Before you go, I want to recall an incident that happened several months ago. One night, you took a sick baby into your own bedroom so that you could care for it even as you slept. All through the night I heard cries coming from your room. Finally, in the wee hours of the morning, the tone in the baby's cry changed. Immediately I knew that the fever had broken and that the child would get better. I'm supposed to be something of a musician but I want you to know that was the most beautiful music I've ever heard." Schweitzer sought for excellence as a musician but he also sought for excellence in loving human beings. That would be a lofty goal, wouldn't it - to be the most loving human being in our community? To be the most trustworthy? To be the most generous? The call to follow Christ is the call to set lofty goals. King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com Love is the real winner in both of these stories, it was love that called God into the healing of a sick daughter, and it was Jesus love that helped the man and those around him to hear. That is what our faith is all about – opening up doors and letting love come in. Today we open to doors of our hearts and of heaven for a little one as she is baptized. Originally, when Martin Luther designed his baptismal liturgy – the priest was supposed to out spit on the babies ears and mouth and says ephaphtha – open up. There was this whole ritual of blowing on the babies face to scare away the devil, then putting spit on the face to open the baby to the spirit, lighting a candle. As a matter of fact, it was Martin Luther who said that if you didn’t have water, then you could use milk or even beer to baptize the baby in an emergency. Luckily, a lot of that symbolism was taken out – today the power of the baptism is in the water and the holy spirit. And yet the lessons of love and faith remain. As the holy spirit opens her life to the presence of grace, may our hearts to be open to the love of God. May we experience God anew. o My church’s prayer of illumination every Sunday: “Holy Spirit, open our hearts to the story of your love, open our minds to new ways of knowing you, open our doors to all whom you would welcome. Amen. Let all of us remember this prayer Ephphatha! Be opened. “Let your ears be open to Christ’s word of forgiveness for your sin. Ephaphatha! Be opened. “Let your eyes be open to see the opportunities God is making available in your world. Ephaphatha! Be opened. Let your mind be open to new ways of thinking that will expand your understanding of God’s will for you and yours. Ephaphatha! Be opened. Let your mouth be opened to share with your friends what God is doing in your life. Ephaphatha! Be opened. Let your life be opened to the movement of the Spirit, open to release from whatever is scaring you stopping you, holding you back, from becoming the person you want to be, the person God wants you to be. Amen. Song He touched Me UMH 367 Response to the Word It is easy to be overwhelmed by the pain of the world. We want to turn off the evening news and tune out the stories of human suffering, but God calls us to pay attention to those around us, to do more than simply give to worthy causes, to do more than pray the situation into God’s hands. Our faith is to be lived out in righteous actions, that we might resist wickedness and avoid condemnation for our lack of compassion. We are challenged to meet the needs of others, to reach out with hand and heart, to provide for the real human needs of others. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, June Boutwell) Pastoral Prayer Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment In the scripture reading from Mark 7 we heard reports of the healing Jesus accomplished in Tyre and the Decapolis. Both in the recovery of the child, and the healing of the man who was deaf and had a speech impediment we hear of Jesus giving new and different lives to the girl and to the man. His healing gift surely affected those directly healed, but also their families and communities as they were freed to engage more fully. As followers of Jesus, we, too, have opportunity to share our gifts with those around us. In this congregation we have some who ___________________ (name one or two ways people engage in your tutoring, food pantry, meals for unhoused…). In this congregation, we have others who _________________________ (name your outreach to the nursing home, your care group leaders, your program planners) What are the gifts you bring today? How can you offer support and engagement? Your financial gifts are one important way to provide life-enhancing and life-changing moments as we help expand the Body of Christ in (your town). With joyful hearts, standing with Jesus, let us offer our gifts in this time of offering. Prayer of Thanksgiving Giver of all good gifts, Thank you for the ways you’ve equipped each one of us with gifts we can share. Open our hearts, our wallets, and our calendars, so we might freely offer our individual and congregational gifts to a world yearning for release from “unclean spirits”, physical challenges and scarcity. Renew in us our desire to be generous followers of Jesus, the Christ. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Go into the world as agents of healing Appreciating the wonder of creation In all forms, expressions, and ways Boldly embracing the fullness of humanity Welcoming the stranger And considering the other as friend. Go in peace. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Cheryl Lindsay) Community Time Joys and Concerns Benediction Beloved, may God bless you today and all days with wisdom that guides you to notice the needs all around you and to share in the work of nurturing abundant life for all of God’s creation. Amen. Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, June 2024. Additional Illustrations In ancient Greece it was customary for peddlers who walked the streets with their wares to cry out, "What do you lack?" The idea was to let people know they were in the vicinity, and also rouse the curiosity of the people. Coming out of their houses they would want to know what the peddler was selling. It might be something they lacked and needed, or simply something they desired. What do you lack? We may have sight and hearing, but what do we lack? Take an honest inventory of yourself. Have you found contentment? Are you close enough to God to receive his guidance and strength? Have you secured peace of heart and peace of mind, invaluable assets in life? Deciding what we lack is the first step in securing it. Christ can fulfill our needs -- needs that are to some extent physical, but, more so, the deepest needs of heart, mind, and soul. The man in Mark 7 lacked the physical ability to hear. But many of us lack the spiritual ability to hear. We suffer a kind of a spiritual deafness. The affliction of not listening to people, or, to put it another way, the affliction of physically listening to people, yet failing to comprehend, to understand, and come to grips with what they are saying, is a plague upon the Church. For, you see, it is possible to listen to a person, yet fail to really hear them… The Buzzard, the Bat, and the Bumblebee If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top. The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash. A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself. In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up! That's the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem! Just look up. Source Unknown _________________ The Kingdom of Heaven Breaks Open Jesus' referring to Gentiles as dogs - clearly this is one of those difficult gospel moments with which Christians must wrestle. Who is this Jesus who is scornful of other nationalities and religions? What kind of savior doesn't want to heal a young girl simply because of who her family is? What are we to do with such an indifferent and despising Christ? Because this passage is so troubling, Christians through the centuries have tried to sweeten or domesticate it, for example pointing out that the Greek word translated here as "dogs" literally means "small dogs," that is, puppies or house dogs. I don't think that mitigates the insult much. I will admit, however, to getting a chuckle out of the images -- such as Sebastiano Ricci's Christ and the Canaanite Woman -- in which a smiling Jesus seems to change his mind because that puppy is just so darn cute! But I think a more productive approach in this case is not to domesticate this scriptural quandary but to embrace it as a moment in which the Kingdom of Heaven breaks opens and becomes more inclusive, a moment in which we are reminded that no one is outside the embrace of God. Karen A. Keely, The Crumbs Under the Table: Bread Enough for All Be Opened When Martin Luther put together a baptismal liturgy in 1523, the actual rite required the pastor to take some of his own saliva and touch the ears and lips of every child getting baptized. At the same instant, the pastor was to repeat the words of Jesus to the deaf man, that one with the speech impediment. The baptizing pastor was to say: Ephphatha - That is, be opened. We don't do this anymore in the Lutheran Church. And I'm not sure I'd be serving my congregation very long if I started using this saliva ritual. But the idea isn't bad. From the very get-go in life, with a lot of help from parents and pastors and adult mentors, we need to find better ways to not be so bound-up with our lives and so tongue-tied with our faith. Have courage. Grab hold to what is good. Loosen up and love a bit more freely. Support the weak. Strengthen the faint-hearted. Honor all people. And for Jesus' sake, keep looking for those ways to open your life to the power of the Holy Spirit … relying on that great prayer of the Psalmist if it helps: O Lord, open thou my lips, and let my tongue declare your praise. Peter Marty, It's Time We Open Up! Success Is Sometimes Measured in Inches Success is sometimes measured in inches. After winning the Pontiac 400 in Richmond, Virginia, several years ago, stock car driver Mark Martin discovered that the spacer between the carburetor and the intake manifold was one-half-inch too long according to NASCAR rules. He was fined $40,000 and penalized 46 points in the season standings. Something that small seemed very significant for Mark. In his book The Range of Human Capacities, Dr. David Wechsler says that if Cleopatra's nose had been just a fraction of an inch longer, the face of Europe might have been changed because Caesar might have shown less interest in the lady. This is another example of how the size of the difference can be small, but the size of the consequences can be huge. A tragic illustration of the crucial importance of little things was furnished a few years ago when a jet crashed shortly after takeoff. All 95 people on board were killed. An exhaustive study of the wreckage determined that it could have been caused by the rudder-control system's losing a bolt that was less than one inch long. For want of a bolt, so many lives were lost. Success can sometimes be measured in inches. Take for example, the distance between the lips and the heart. Jesus was chastising the religious leaders of his day and he quotes the words of Isaiah: "These people worship me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." God on the lips, but not in the heart. A fatal distance of less than 12 inches. King Duncan, www.Sermons.com _________________________________ She Thinks That I Am Real A story is told of a family that went into a restaurant. The waitress walked up and, looking at the young boy, said: What will it be? The boy eagerly shouted back: “I'll take a hamburger, French fries, and a chocolate shake.” The mother immediately interrupted: Oh, that's not what he wants. “He'll take the roast beef, a baked potato, and a glass of milk.” Much to the surprise of both the mother and the boy, the waitress completely ignored her and again asked the boy: “And what do you want on that hamburger?” The boy shouted back, “ketchup, lots of ketchup.” “And what kind of shake?” “Make it chocolate.” The boy then turned to his parents with a big smile on his face and said: “Say, ain't she something. She thinks that I'm real!” Well, let me give you fair warning. If you once, just once, start really hearing people they are suddenly going to become real to you. Staff, www.eSermons.com The Miracle Bridge Perhaps you have heard the story of the Miracle Bridge. (Chicken Soup for the Soul, No. 3) In l883 a creative engineer, John Roebling was inspired to build the Brooklyn Bridge. Experts told him to forget it. He convinced his son Washington, an up and coming engineer to build the bridge. They hired a crew and began to build their dream bridge. The project was only a few months old when there was a tragic accident. John Roebling was killed and his son was severely brain damaged. He was unable to move or talk, but his mind was sharp as ever. He was able to move one finger and touched the arm of his wife. From that point on they learned how to communicate. For the next l3 years he tapped out instructions to the bridge builders who then completed the spectacular bridge. Our ability to communicate is our greatest asset. The best way to be disciples is to be people who are understood and at the same time be folks who are willing to listen. Keith Wagner, Is Anyone Listening? Seeing the Face of God There is a scene in the Hollywood motion picture, Ben-Hur. Ben-Hur is by a well, and he is filthy, stooped in the dirt, and overcome with a fierce thirst. The camera focuses on Ben-Hur's face. His countenance is twisted in misery. Then the shadow of a man crosses his visage. We do not see the man. The camera remains fixed on Ben-Hur's face. The man offers Ben-Hur water. As Ben-Hur lifts his wretched face to behold the merciful stranger, we see a sudden radiance transform his face. We know instantly, by the radical change of his countenance, that when he lifts his head he looks directly into the face of Christ. What a difference it makes when someone is in the presence of Jesus. When someone is in the presence of Jesus he may not regain his physical hearing, but still he hears things he's never heard before--words of assurance and love and hope. He may not regain his physical vision, but he sees things he's never seen before--inwardly he sees the face of God. King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com Little Annie As a young girl, "Little Annie" was diagnosed as being hopelessly insane, and was locked up in a mental institution. An elderly nurse believed there was hope for the child, and day after day she would visit with her, even though she was often rebuffed. Over a long period of time, Little Annie gradually improved, and was finally released from the institution. Filled with compassion for others because of what she herself had gone through, Anne Sullivan, whose own life had been miraculously opened, was able to open the life of Helen Keller. Kenneth C. Landall, Being Open • The infirmity harkens back to Isaiah 35:6, “Then the lame will leap like the deer, and the tongue of the speechless will sing. Waters will spring up in the desert,and streams in the wilderness” - eschatological implications. o This is the passage of Isaiah that is talking about the one who will prepare the way and make the paths straight. o This is a part of the work of Jesus, which continues with the highway which is the Holy Way. • “Open Up” - United Methodist slogan of “Open hearts, open minds, open doors.” o Many progressive UM’s question the validity of this statement because we continue to be closed to the LGBTQ community. o I read the “opens” as verbs, not adjectives. Instead of the slogan being a description, I see it as a prescription. It is what we are called as a church to do - to go out and open hearts, open minds, and open doors. polis is on the opposite side of Galilee from Tyre. Tyre is far northwest, on the Mediterranean Sea. Decapolis is on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. There has to be a significant amount of time passing between these stories, yet they are tied together. There were other aspects of this service that are not commonly done today. Near the beginning, salt was placed in the mouth of the child with the words, “(Name) receive the salt of wisdom. May it aid thee to eternal life.”[9] Following the reading of Mark 10:13-16, the priest put spit on his finger and touched the child’s nose and ears, saying, “Ephphatha, that is, Be thou opened. But thou, devil, flee; for God’s judgment cometh speedily.”[10] There were also anointings both before and after the baptism. Overall, Luther’s main concern was that the parents and sponsors hear God’s Word and pray for the one being baptized. He mentions that some of the other “external things” were less important.[11] And so when the 1526 revision was published, many of these rites were gone. Gone was the blowing under the eyelids, the salt, the spit, the anointing and even the baptismal candle. Several prayers were omitted. In general, the whole service was shortened. Previously Luther had left many of these ceremonies in because of “weak consciences,” but three years later he was comfortable removing them.[12] In our day, some of these practices have come back (e.g. the baptismal candle). Other new ones have been added (e.g. the welcome by the congregation). In Luther’s day it was necessary to pare back the ceremonies a bit, as they were distracting from the baptism itself. Luther found it necessary to emphasize that the water and the Word of God were the main thing in the baptismal rite by reducing the number of ceremonies. In some places the additional ceremonies have been found to be helpful to teach and emphasize what is happening in baptism. “Each generation trims a little, adds a little (extolling is never finished); but always the actual Baptism itself remains the same: ‘one Lord, one faith, one baptism’ (Eph 4:5).”[13]