The Church in our Hearts - repreach of New Heaven, New Earth 5/26/19

May 25, 2025 Revelation 21:1-10, 22:1-5 The Church in our Hearts 6th Sunday of Easter Year C Prelude Greeting Call to Worship Call to Worship In the beginning, the voice that whispered us into being still whispers, saying… Let there be light! In the wilderness, the voice that fed us from the heavens still feeds us. saying… Let there be light! In the story we share with this God of mystery and amazing love, the voice calls to us each and every morning, saying… Let there be light! Written by Sally Johnson, United Methodist Creation Justice Movement Opening Prayer (keep it bold) God of the stars and galaxies, God of the seed and Earth, we thank you that you continue to come to us, to amaze us, to laugh with us, to cry with us, to comfort us, and to show us that your love shines through us and your creation, bringing light to a darkened world. May this beauty and peace be reflected in this sacred circle. In the name of the Christ-presence, we pray. Amen. Written by Sally Johnson, United Methodist Creation Justice Movement Song Battle Hymn of the Republic UMH 717 A Sermon for all Ages Hello, children of God! You know what I’ve noticed? Life can be tough. It is full of challenges and difficulties. And there are a lot of things that we need in order to face the hardships that come our way. (As you describe, hold up items one by one.) For instance, tissues! Sometimes we feel sad, and need a tissue to dry our tears. Or you might get a cold and need that tissue to blow your nose. You might also feel sick and need medicine to help you get better. Or sometimes you get hurt, and you need a band-aid to patch things up. Or how about this? Flashlights! There are times when things get dark, or perhaps the power goes out. It’s important to have a flashlight ready to guide your way. Oh, and don’t forget about sustenance! We need snacks and plenty of water to keep us going. Phew, this sure is a lot of gear to lug around! Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t need all of this? In fact, wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t face sickness, or sadness, or darkness at all? Well, guess what? I have some great news for you. Someday we won’t need tissues or band-aids or medicine, or even water! We have some beautiful promises from God about how things will be in Heaven. God tells us that He is going to make all things new. When we finish this life on Earth, a new home awaits us, better than anything that we can imagine now. God says that He will wipe away every tear. We won’t need tissues! There will be no more sorrow or sickness. There won’t be pain. We won’t even need the light of flashlights or the sun, because the light of Jesus will shine brightly. We won’t need water, because God will give us living water. All of these things that trouble us now will be gone. No burdens, no hardships at all! Of course, we don’t know all of the details. We don’t know when we will go to Heaven, and we don’t know exactly what it will be like. But we have the hope that it will be wonderful. It’s sort of like when you have a rough week at school, but you know there’s something special or fun waiting for you when you get to the weekend. You can think about that special thing and feel a little better when times get rough. It is the same way in our lives. Yes, we have joyous moments, and we want to make the most of every day. But sometimes things get hard. When those times come, we know that this world is not our home, and difficulties won’t last forever. God promises us eternal life with Him, free from all trials and pain. We can rest assured that something spectacular is waiting for us! So when we feel sad or Copyright © Ministry-To-Children – Permission granted for any non-profit use. Please copy, share, upload this PDF elsewhere. I.E., upload to your church website, Facebook, Pinterest, or anywhere to bless others! Written by Kristin Schmidt . Scripture from ESV®encounter challenges, we remember that there is hope in Heaven. God will make all things new, including our lives! Let’s say a prayer to thank God for the hope of Heaven and a future with Him. Children’s Prayer Moment: (Have kids repeat each line, if desired) Dear God, Thank you for the hope of Heaven We know you will comfort us with your peace And wipe away our tears. Help us to remember that when things are hard. Thank you for loving us We love you, God! Thank you for Jesus (Ministry4children, Kristin Schmidt) Affirmation of Faith UMH 880 Scripture Revelation 21:1-10; 22:1-5 Sermon The Church in our Hearts Imagine there's no heaven It's easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today... Aha-ah... Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion, too Imagine all the people Living life in peace... You... You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world... You... You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will live as one I am sure that many of us are familiar with this popular song by John Lennon. I have always been touched by the words – imagine a world with no war, no country, no walls – all of the things that divide us are nonexistent. I can go along with the song well until it says imagine a world with no religion. No religion – what does that mean? Interestingly enough – John Lennon is speaking of the same world that is spoken of in revelation 21 and 22. A new heaven always light. A place where everyone is happy, a place where the gates are open 24 hours a day. A place flowing with peace. But the most noticeable thing about this place - there is no temple, no church, no mosque, no place for people to gather to be in the presence of God – because God is present everywhere. People don’t have to look for God – or go anywhere to seek God – God is present in every moment, every situation every life. John Lennon says that you may say that I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one. The author of Revelation – John says that he was taken to this place in a dream. Many people have seen this place in a dream, this perfect paradise. We see it in images of the wizard of Oz – and the emerald city. In Disney land, that place where we can go where all of our dreams can come true. We speak of this place even in faith – heaven – the place where God lives. The place where there is no sun, no moon – but ever present light. Light is a universal representation of God. That is why we light so many candles in church – to show God’s presence. And where there is light, where there is God’s presence – people are naturally attracted. There is a story of a farmer, whose wife was about to give birth. It was storming outside and they had to summon the doctor to their house. As the doctor arrived, the power went out, but the baby was about to come. So the doctor asked the husband to get a candle and to hold it up, so that he could see to deliver the baby. The husband held the light, as the doctor did his work – and soon after his wife gave birth to a baby boy. They were overjoyed, but the doctor soon said wait a minute – another one is coming – and there was a little girl. And minutes later the doctor said wait – another one is coming. After the third baby was born, the husband stepped away with the candle. The doctor said o wait come back, I can’t see without the light. The husband said no – no more light, the babies are attracted to the light, it’s the light that is making them come out. I gotta stop them from coming. It is the light that attracts us all. When God created the earth, what was the first thing that God did – God said let there be light– where the light is we know that there is healing, there is peace, there is community, there is the ability to live. Heaven is the place where God is always present – a place that needs no sun, no moon, no outside life force – because God is totally present. There are many other great attributes to this city – a river, trees, a city that never sleeps, the gates are always open, there is no need for protection – because it is a place of perfect peace. When we hear of this place – it makes no sense in our world. Many of us shy away from the book of revelation, because it seems to make no sense to us. And it seems like a fantasy land in comparison to the world that we live in. This world makes no sense to us, but to those who John was talking to it made perfect sense. And it wasn’t a fantasy land, it was the promise of God coming in the future. It was a sign of hope that no matter how bad life got – there was something to look forward to. John explaining what heaven looks like was a challenge for the people – to face the present day with fear or with hope. It was a challenge for each of us to choose hope. The hope of Christ in our lives. There is one more interesting feature of heaven. It has a river running through it, but there was no sea surrounding it. The Jews are afraid of water, and think that every evil thing in the world comes out of the sea – the sea was the place of chaos, or evil, even of sin. Heaven has no sea – meaning it has no evil or ill will. Only the healing presence of God. It says that the cowardly, the vile, the murderers, will be thrown into the sea – and there is no sea in heaven. The light of heaven is God, the light of earth is those who hold God in their heart So there is that. But the best part of heaven, is the ability to see God face to face. God will dwell in heaven. Dwell literally means pitch a tent amongst us. When the scriptures speak of Christ coming into the world to be with us – it speaks of Christ being God dwelling amongst us. Not in heaven, but in earth. The scripture speaks of 4 things that will be news: a new heaven a new earth, a new Jerusalem, and new life. This story is intended to give a glimpse of heaven, but a glimpse of heaven on earth. In the challenges of life, we can face life with fear, or with hope of something better. Pastor James Moore of Houston, Texas, tells a story about a young man whose wife had died, leaving him with a small son. Back home from the cemetery, they went to bed early because there was nothing else he could bear to do. As he lay there in the darkness, grief-stricken and heartbroken, the little boy broke the stillness from his little bed with a disturbing question, “Daddy, where is mommy?” The father got up and brought the little boy to bed with him, but the child was still disturbed and restless, occasionally asking questions such as, “Why isn’t she here?” and, “When is she coming back?” Finally the little boy said, “Daddy, if your face is toward me, I think I can go to sleep now.” In a little while, he was quiet. The father lay there in the darkness, and then in childlike faith, prayed this prayer: “O God, I don’t see how I can survive this. The future looks so miserable, but if Your face is toward me, somehow I think I can make it.” That’s what the Messiah came to teach us: that God’s face is always toward us As it is in heaven, so may it be on earth. The vision of heaven in revelation 21 and 22 has been the inspiration for many modern poems, songs and movies. In the 90’s there was a movie that came out, I think it was based on a book. I know the movie was called a River Runs through it. It was an autobiographical story about the family of John McLean in Montana. He had two boys, both who loved to fish. One of the boys went on to become a professor at the University of Chicago. The other was killed in a fight. The movie ends years later with the other son, his family and his mother listening to one of their dad’s sermons. Talking about how all that we have to give to our loved ones and others is unconditional love. The river in the movie represents home, the place of true love, the place of flowing to a new future, a place the reminds us of the river ever flowing through heaven. Today we are sitting here in a temple with open doors, near a river, and trees. The lights are on, and the presence of God is here with us. – All of the symbols of heaven are right here, reminding us that heaven begins right here on earth. Heaven begins right here, with us – the light of God is inside of us. We have the power of Christ. How can we be a beacon of hope for the world today? How do we become the temples of God in the world? How do we bring the peace, hope and light to others who cannot see? By not just imagining, but living in that world today. Let’s Pray. Song Shall We Gather at the Water UMH 723 Pastoral Prayer Empowering Spirit, God of our mothers and fathers, Creator and Redeemer of all life, We pray to you for your love-grounded peace. We ask you to open our minds, free our hearts, bless our bodies, and grace all our relationships. We ask this of you because you have promised to help us, just as you illumine in Revelation's prophetic vision. You come to make a good world, a new creation-place where we can enjoy health, decency, safety, and even joy. We pray to you, O God, to inspire us into this daringly just world. We pray for new creation where love is greater than jewels and more luminous than the sun or moon. Let that love be shared around the tree of life. Bless us again in your image and free our frightened souls. So, shall we gather at the river? Shall we soak in the river of many healings? Shall we make every place where nature communes with humanity a temple for your creation? Yes, O God, we shall gather at your river and your tree of life. We shall bless the tree and the river and all living things. We pray in the name of Jesus, in the way of love-grounded peace. Amen Written by Rev. Cooper Wiggin, United Methodist Creation Justice Movement Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment God has shown us the meaning of generosity in the beautiful diversity of creation, in the overflowing love of Jesus Christ, and in the never-ending gift of the Holy Spirit. God has blessed us abundantly. Now God calls us to be a community that blesses others. Today, through the sharing of our love, our talents and our material possessions, let us rejoice in what we’ve been given and in what is ours to give as we receive our morning offering. Prayer of Thanksgiving We offer our gifts to you, Holy God. Today we offer not only our finances, but our growing community to any who are lonely, our hearts to any who are grieving, our hope to any who have lost their way, our lives to any who are tossed aside by the world. We make our offering because we have first been led, lured, lifted and loved in your Spirit. With gratitude we share our gifts and our lives, Amen (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Let us go forth knowing that our spiritual and religious journey as Christians begins with one word, one name, one person: Jesus. Now let us be an example of what that means so others can witness our compassion and solidarity to the weeping, to the joyful, and to those we don’t share common ideologies so that all might be refreshed in body and in spirit (United Church of Christ, Ellie Hutchinson) Community Time – Joys and Concerns Benediction Peace…peace I leave with you. Peace…peace I offer you. Peace…as we walk into the world to be the presence of the Holy to all we meet. Peace…peace…peace…peace. Written by Sally Johnson, United Methodist Creation Justice Movement

God in and around us

May 14, 2023 Mother’s Day Acts 17:22-31 God in an around Us 6th Sunday of Easter Year A Prelude Welcome Call to Worship One: Today we celebrate our mothers, grandmothers, aunties, and all the women who have loved us. Many: Thank you God for giving us mothers. One: We remember with deep gratitude all the ways they demonstrated their love for us. Many: Sometimes we did not understand them, but we know that God understood. One: We take time to remember our mothers because a mother's love is most like God's love. All: For their tears, for their hugs, for their wisdom, for their unfailing trust in our abilities, we give thanks today. (Board of Discipleship, Rev. LaGretta Bjorn) Opening Prayer Loving God, we know your love because we have mothers. We thank you for the mothers who carried us in their wombs, nourishing, protecting, and bringing us into the world. We thank you for the mothers who did not give birth to us, yet loved us just the same. With gratitude we remember their words of encouragement when we have felt unsure or afraid; we thank you for their kindness when the world has treated us unkindly; we thank you for their soft, comforting arms and the gentle way they kissed away our tears; we thank you that they protected us with the fierceness of a lioness protecting her cubs; we thank you for the times when they corrected us rather than letting us continue down wrong paths. Help us to live so that their investment in us might not be in vain. We honor our mothers with lives of service to you in the name of the Risen Christ, for it is in his Name we pray. Amen. (Board of Dicipleship, Rev. LaGretta Bjorn) Song The Gift of Love UMH 408 Children’s Sermon Mother’s Day Object Lesson Lesson Capsule One way kids can know how much God loves them is by comparing it to the love of a parent – in this case, Mom! This lesson using a flashlight will show how God’s love “shines through” a parent and reveals an even bigger love in the background. Household Object: Flashlight Other Materials: – 4 sheets of red construction paper – Stick glue Preparation Glue the 4 sheets together, 2 on top, 2 underneath, so that the edges overlap only about an inch. This will give you a giant sheet of red paper. Draw a heart on it and cut it out. Lesson Do you guys remember being younger and saying to your mom, “I love you THIS BIG!”? Spread your arms out as wide as you can. Many will remember doing this. And did your mom ever say back, “Well, I love you THIS big?” Spread your arms out even wider if possible or the widest you can. Whose arms could spread out wider? Your arms or your mom’s arms? Mom’s arms could spread out wider. And why is that? Because her arms are longer. Pick up your giant red heart and show it to students. Because it’s Mother’s Day, we’ve made this big giant heart to show how big Mother Love is. Think of the size of your heart in your chest. Then look at this heart. That’s how big a mom’s love can be. Moms are not perfect. Yet some people say that nobody can love more than a mother can. What are some ways we know our moms love us? Get from kids the variety of things that moms do to show love. What do you think? Does anyone, generally speaking, love more than a mom? They will probably say no. Think about it. There is one person who loves more than a mom. If someone implies a dad, say dads love as much as moms but not more. GOD loves us more! Can you even believe that? How can we know how much God loves us, when we can’t even see him? One way is that God loves us through moms. When your mom does something loving and kind for you, that’s God doing it too! God is especially glad to have made moms because, while we’re here on earth, it has given Him a way to show His love for you. But I just said God’s love is bigger. Let me show you one way of looking at this. Turn out the lights. Turn on the flashlight. Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world.” Often in the Bible, God and Jesus are referred to as “the light.” They “shed light” on subjects with their divine wisdom. They “light up our hearts” when we accept Jesus as our Savior. They “light the way” when we need to know how to get through a scary situation. They also shine on moms, so they feel their love for us. Have your assistant hold up the heart maybe 6 feet from a blank wall or door. You stand at least 6 feet away from her, so that she is between the wall and you. Shine the light on the heart. Stand back far enough so that the flashlight beam goes around all four sides. See how this heart lights up when we shine a light on it? That’s like the light of God that makes a mom’s heart love. Now”¦Look at the wall behind the heart. What do you see? Students should see the shadow of a heart. Is the shadow of the heart the same size as the heart, or is it bigger than the heart? It is a lot bigger. If your mom’s love for you is the size of that heart, God’s love is the size of the heart on the wall! By shining his love through your mom, you get to see not only how bright and loving she is”¦.but you get some idea of how God’s love is all that much bigger. God’s love may seem like a shadow here on earth. But it is very real in heaven. Someday we’ll get to see more than a shadow and we won’t have to experience it through another loving person. Someday we’ll get to see the hugeness of God’s love face to face! In the meantime, thank your moms today for loving you enough to bring you to church. She knows you need God, and bringing you to learn more about him is one of the most loving things a mom can do! Do you have other favorite Mother’s Day lessons you like to use with your children? Feel free to share them below! And don’t forget to Become a Fan on Facebook, where I will share more great Mother’s Day activities and ideas! (from Christianity Cove) Tell kids: Many explorers have traveled the world looking for the “fountain of youth,” a place where they can live forever. As Christians, we don’t need a magic formula for a long life – we have the promises of God! Did you know that God promises you long life when you honor your mother? That’s right! How do you do it? Speak to your mother with a kind voice and respect. Don’t disobey her or lie to her. Be a person who brings her honor. (from Ministry to Children) Affirmation of Faith UMH 887 Anthem - Bells Scripture Acts 17:22-31 Sermon God in us and Around Us It is important for us to celebrate Mother’s Day – the ten commandments tells us to honor our mother and father. Even though days when we honor our parents can get compilicated and brings up so many different emotions for people. I think that it is important to remember that our primary cargivers are a source of love. Sometimes that love comes from our parents, but it always comes from God. God always sends someone into our lives to teach us love – sometimes those people are our parents and relatives, but that person is always Jesus Christ. Our scripture today addresses the condition of our world today. In a world of uncertainty and pain, everyone is searching for that primary source of love. The book of Acts is the story of how the Holy Spirit spread the good news of the gospel. It follows all of the disciples as they go out into the world. At the beginning of the story we hear of the travels of Peter. But later in the book, Paul becomes the main character. In chapter 17 – Paul is at the capital of Greece, Athens. The Greek people value knowledge, but Paul also notices that they seem to break of the image of God – they have a God for everything. On Mars Hill, the main building of the government, Paul notices a monument dedicated to an unknown God. When Paul sees it, he addresses the court and takes the opportunity to tell them about the one true God – the God who brings us all together through love. Paul shares his Christian faith and convinces them that the search for the holy and eternal is over. Some are even converted. Paul’s point to us today is that the presence of God is everywhere, in everything and is available to all people. When we look for God we can find the presence of God – in scripture and even in our mothers. In his book with the catchy title, It Was on Fire when I Laid Down on It, author and ordained minister Robert Fulghum relates a story from his early years in ministry. Fulghum writes that on the Sunday prior to Mother’s Day one year, a member of his congregation approached him and said, "Now preacher, far be it from me (those words almost always spell trouble!) far be it from me to tell you what to preach about. But next Sunday is Mother’s Day, and my MOTHER will be here next Sunday, since it is MOTHER’S DAY. It sure would be nice if you were to say something about MOTHERS, since it will, after all, be MOTHER’S DAY, and my MOTHER will be here with me." Fulghum says, "I got the point." t would be awfully tough, for example to preach a Mother’s Day sermon if the assigned text for the day were from the 14th chapter of Matthew. If you’re not familiar with that passage, it is the story of how the daughter of Herodias, wife of King Herod, asked that the head of John the Baptist be brought to her on a platter, as her mother had instructed her! Not exactly a favorable image of dear old Mom, is it? But today is different. Today all the lectionary texts address the issue of the need to share our faith. Now, I don’t know about YOUR mother, but my mother gave frequent lectures about sharing. Maybe if my siblings and I had been better about DOING it, Mom wouldn’t have had to talk it about so much. But Mom often tutored us about sharing. As the oldest of five children, Mom repeatedly reminded me that I had to set an example for my younger siblings to follow (and how I hated that! Every single time I stepped out of line and got caught at it, "What kind of example are you setting for your brothers and sisters?") . And one of the best ways I could provide a good example, according to Mom, was by sharing. At first, it was by sharing my toys with my sisters, who much to my dismay, liked playing with MY stuff better than they liked playing with their dolls. Then later, after my brothers came along, I had to share my room with them. When you live in a three-bedroom house, Mom and Dad share one bedroom, the girls share another, and the boys share the third. And that was okay for a while. After spending the first six years of my life with only sisters to play with, I was glad to have brothers to share a room with. Until I became a teenager, of course. Then I needed my space, needed room to assert myself, my individuality. Did you ever notice that the way we do that is by trying to be like every other teenager we know? "I want to bleach my hair to express my uniqueness. What do you mean, I can’t do that? Jimmy’s mom let him do it! All the guys at school are bleaching their hair! Why can’t I?" But I do have a lot of happy memories of those sharing times with my brothers and sisters. What I remember most is that the sharing was best, the example I set, if I set one, was best when I played with my brothers as if they were my age, and not the other way around. When my actions and words were the same as theirs, the sharing still happened, but something seemed to be missing. I shared, just like Mom taught me. But nothing worthwhile came from the sharing. Something seemed to be missing. Sometimes that’s what happens when we try to share our faith, isn’t it? We muster up the courage for the attempt but then for some reason nothing seems to come of it. Nothing we can see right away, anyhow. Let’s be honest – it’s tough to talk about faith issues outside the setting of the church. We don’t want to come on too strong to other people. We don’t want to overwhelm them. We don’t want to be regarded as some kind of religious fanatic, the office Jesus Freak. Years ago, William F. Buckley noted that you may be able to mention religion at a fancy dinner party once, but if you bring up the subject twice in one evening, your name won’t be on the guest list for the next big shindig! Sharing our faith is difficult sometimes. Besides, as we sometimes say, "I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day." "Actions speak louder than words." The best way to share our faith, to tell others about Jesus, may be the lives we live, rather than the words we speak. But don’t you have to be able to talk the talk, as well as walk the walk? Communications is a complicated process. This faith of ours is a faith that has been articulated through words. Long before the Bible existed in written form, it was passed on through oral tradition, the telling of the stories of faith from generation to generation. And even after the Bible came to exist in written form, Christians had to encourage one another to study God’s Word in order to be able to address issues from a Christian point of view. Thanks, Mom, for teaching me to share, for giving me that foundation upon which to build my witness. And thanks also for teaching me that HOW you share is equally as important as WHAT you share. Staff, , by Johnny Dean Today is a day for us to think about Mothers, God and the Spirit of love that connects us all. Rev. Fulgum remembered the lesson of sharing that his mother taught him. What lessons in life did your mother teach you about love, about sharing, about life in general. My Mother Taught Me… 1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning." 2. My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet." 3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!" 4. My mother taught me LOGIC. "Because I said so, that's why." 5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me." 6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident." 7. My mother taught me IRONY. "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about." 8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper." 9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!" 10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone." 11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it." 12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!" 13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out." 14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!" 15. My mother taught me about ENVY. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do." 16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until we get home." 17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING. "You are going to get it when you get home!" 18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way." 19. My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?" 20. My mother taught me HUMOR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me." 21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up." 22. My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father." 23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?" 24. My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand." 25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE. "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!" Source Unknown. The greatest gift that we can give you our moms today is to live out those lessons and to pass them on to others. Honor through Your Life You must also give your mother honor in the way you live. Whether we want it to be this way or not, the way we live is a reflection upon our parents. So, if you really want to honor your mother, you should live in a way that she will be proud of. You must live an honorable life. One day, several convicts were in a prison library flipping through a merchandise catalog. On one of the pages there was the picture of a lovely home. One of the prisoners said, "Man, I sure wish I could give my mother a house like that to live in." Another prisoner pointed to the nice car that was pictured in front of the house and said, "No, I'd rather give my ma a car like that, so she could come to see me once in a while." Then the two men noticed their friend, Bill, just staring blankly at the magazine, so they asked him to say what he would like to give his mother. After thinking for a few minutes, he looked at them with tears in his eyes and said, in a sorrowful tone, "I wish I could give my mother a more honorable son." That young man was grieving about the fact that his dishonorable life and actions had dishonored his mother. R.E. Lybrand, Home Is a Four-letter Word, CSS Publishing Most of us try to honor our parents by who we are and by what we do. We honor our parents by making connections to them. But we should also honor them by honoring the lessons of God that we have learned through Jesus Christ. Some people search for an unknown God – but we have been blessed with so many people who have come to show us the story of love. Perhaps today we can also brighten the day of someone who may be alone today. Or give a donation to and organization who helps mothers in need. Or remember our mother and others who have shown us love. Gratitude Make a list of 31 things your wife does for you and the family which you seldom thank her for. Make a point of thanking her specifically for one on each day of the coming month. On each day of the following month pay her a new compliment on one of her good attitudes, character qualities, habits or talents. And be prepared for a better relationship than you've enjoyed in quite a while. Unknown Mothers and Father’s Get Short Changed Mothers and Fathers -- you think you're special? You think you're being honored, having one day out of the year dedicated to you? Consider this: Egg salad gets a whole week. As do pickles, pancakes, pickled peppers, split pea soup, clowns, carpenter ants and aardvarks. Peanut butter (March), chickens (September) and oatmeal (January) each rate an entire month. Mothers and fathers can draw solace from the fact that along with themselves, such national treasures as the rubber eraser and moles also merit only a single day of recognition. Afterall, mothers day comes one day a year – ice cream, drinking , pets and even pizza get a whole month to celebrate. We still live in a world searching for true love in an unknown God. Today is about God, mothers, and the presence of love that connects us all. Even with all of its complications, and the list grows every year – Mother’s Day is an important day in the life of the church. Birthday parties are special because a group of friends come to rejoice at the blessings of someone else. Much is the same in our celebrations of complicated joy at church. We will never assemble with unfettered joy on this side of heaven. But, if we will allow ourselves, we can anticipate that unfettered joy in moments of celebration where the broken, injured, and wounded share in the joy of the moment with those who are not. While it may be a bit complicated by our fallen and broken world, our time together as God's family must be a time to anticipate the joy that awaits us when our Father brings us home! Even though it may be complicated, rejoice! In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:6-9) Phil Ware, A Complicated Joy, originally published in Heartlight Magazine So, with all those qualifications, why bother with Mothers’ Day at all? I’ll tell you why —— because for all its stumbling blocks, pitfalls and broken dreams, for all the soiled diapers, soiled wallpaper and spoiled plans, we’re talking about a beautiful ideal, a natural part of God’s creative plan to bring love and caring to light. Motherhood is a constant demand for the gift of love and caring. Proclaim, “A Mother’s Day Sermon,” May 14, 1989. Mother’s Day is our way of celebrating the love of God that came down to earth to teach us the way. Amen. Song Abide with Me UMH 700 Mother’s Day Prayer Mothers’ Day Liturgy Lord, on this day set aside to honor and remember mothers, we give you thanks for our mothers. We are grateful that you chose to give us life through them, and that they received the gift of life from your hands, and gave it to us. Thank you for the sacrifices they made in carrying us and giving us birth. We thank you for the women who raised us, who were our mothers in childhood. Whether birth mom, adopted mom, older sister, aunt, grandmother, stepmother or someone else, we thank you for those women who held us and fed us, who cared for us and kissed away our pain. We pray that our lives may reflect the love they showed us, and that they would be pleased to be called our moms. Jaymie- can you print this prayer as an insert, starting here We pray for older moms whose children are grown. Grant them joy and satisfaction for a job well done. We pray for new moms experiencing changes they could not predict. Grant them rest and peace as they trust you for the future. We pray for pregnant women who will soon be moms. Grant them patience and good counsel in the coming months. We pray for moms who face the demands of single parenthood. Grant them strength and wisdom. We pray for moms who enjoy financial abundance. Grant them time to share with their families. We pray for moms who are raising their children in poverty. Grant them relief and justice. We pray for step-moms. Grant them patience and understanding and love. We pray for moms who are separated from their children. Grant them faith and hope. We pray for moms in marriages that are in crisis. Grant them support and insight. We pray for moms who have lost children. Grant them comfort in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We pray for mothers who aborted their children. Grant them healing and peace. We pray for moms who gave up their children for adoption. Grant them peace and confidence as they trust in your providence. We pray for adoptive mothers. Grant them joy and gratitude for the gift you have provided. We pray for girls and women who think about being moms. Grant them wisdom and discernment. We pray for all women who have assumed the mother’s role in a child’s life. Grant them joy and the appreciation of others. We pray for those people present who are grieving the loss of their mother in the past year. Grant them comfort and hope in Christ’s resurrection. Prayer of blessing: Lord, we thank you for the gift of motherhood. We thank you for the many examples of faithful mothers in scripture, like Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth, and Lois. Hear now the first names of other women who have inspired us by their motherly examples . . . We are mindful this day of all these women, and especially Mary the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, who had the courage in faith to say “yes” to your calling. May these women gathered here today emulate these examples of faith. And may they model for all the rest of us what it means to be your disciple. Bless them on this special day; in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. —posted on the WorshipHelps blog. Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment Offering Prayer Dear Lord, out of your great love for us you have provided for our needs. There is food for our tables, clothes to cover us, a roof over our heads and someone to love us. For these gifts we are grateful. Bless now, our tithes and offerings, we ask, so that they may be used to make disciples for Jesus Christ. Amen. (Board of Discipleship, Rev. LaGretta Bjorn) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook May we leave this house of worship strengthened by the Spirit renewed by God’s Grace and reminded that the Body of Christ surrounds us for help, comfort, and support. May the grace, hope, peace and love of the God the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer be with us now and always. Amen Joys and Concerns Mother’s Day Benediction Go into your week, knowing that you are embraced by the love of God; a love that is sweeter and more tender than any you have ever known. Additional Illustrations A Complicated Joy Have you noticed how hard it is to have a simple joyful event anymore? Something inside wants me to blame it on some external factor like political correctness run amuck. Unfortunately, it is not that simple. We live in a fallen world of complicated joy. Special times like Mother's Day or Father's Day remind me of this sad reality. While I enjoy preaching a "happy little sermon" about moms or dads, the complicated reality of our broken world jumps up and trips me. There are those moms or dads who have been abandoned or abused by their spouses and the last thing they want to do is give thanks or hear nice things about something and someone they don't have. Ditto for those who have had horrible experiences with their own moms or dads. In addition, there are those who have wanted and prayed and waited to be moms and dads without success and with deep wounds. Suddenly, what seems so simple and profoundly important jumps up has the joy stolen from its moment. Our concern for the wounded often leads us to forego the rejoicing, tone done the celebration, or issue all sorts of exception statements so the wounded don't get further injured. Meanwhile, those who have reason for joy have a lot of it siphoned out of the moment. As Christian communities, however, I believe our churches need times of unabashed joy. Yes, there are those in pain who have been victimized by bad marriages or bad parents. Yes, there are those who ache to have children of their own and who find what is missing hurtful on these kinds of days. But, I believe we truly NEED to celebrate these kinds of moments without apology. Let me share a few reasons why. First, we need to honor those to whom honor is due. In our petty and nit-picky world, people seldom get the affirmation and praise they deserve. Standing up and honoring those who deserve must be done -- it is not an option for godly people. God wants us to honor those to whom honor is due. (Romans 13:7) Second, our children need to know that in the troubled world in which they often find themselves, there are moments of joy to cherish and to anticipate. How do they know what "normal" should be, or what goal to set for their own lives if all they hear about are the exceptions and the injuries? Let's teach them to be kind and compassion as well as to think on lovely things and to reach for them in their own lives. (Philippians 4:4-9) Third, so often in caring Christian communities, our focus is on the broken, the wounded, the left out, and the injured. This is not only appropriate; it is righteous in the truest definition of that biblically rich term. We must be communities of care and compassion. We also must maintain a healthy and holy balance. Thanks for our blessings, praise for the greatness and graciousness of our loving God, and appreciation for his response to our pleas for help and healing should also be a part of our worship. A compassionate community will lose its compassion if it forgets the joy that inspired it. We must rejoice with those who rejoice in addition to weeping with those who weep. (Romans 12:15) The broken need to share the blessing of gratitude with those who rejoice. This is not just encouragement for those rejoicing, but it also helps the broken refocus on other things than their own brokenness and offers the promise of their own brighter tomorrow. Birthday parties are special because a group of friends come to rejoice at the blessings of someone else. Much is the same in our celebrations of complicated joy at church. We will never assemble with unfettered joy on this side of heaven. But, if we will allow ourselves, we can anticipate that unfettered joy in moments of celebration where the broken, injured, and wounded share in the joy of the moment with those who are not. While it may be a bit complicated by our fallen and broken world, our time together as God's family must be a time to anticipate the joy that awaits us when our Father brings us home! Even though it may be complicated, rejoice! In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:6-9) Phil Ware, A Complicated Joy, originally published in Heartlight Magazine Humor: Mother’s Maintenance Manual Many of us take better care of our cars then we do our mothers and yet we only expect our cars to last 5 or 6 years but we expect our mothers to last for a lifetime. Maybe we need a maintenance manual for mothers so we would know how to take care of them at least as well as we do our automobiles. Here are some items that might be included in such a manual. Engine: A mother's engine is one of the most dependable kinds you can find. She can reach top speed from a prone position at a single cry from a sleeping child. But regular breaks are needed to keep up that peak performance. Mothers need a hot bath and a nap every 100 miles, a baby-sitter and a night out every 1,000 miles, and a live in baby-sitter with a one week vacation every 10,000 miles. Battery: Mother's batteries should be recharged regularly. Handmade items, notes, unexpected hugs and kisses, and frequent "I love you's" will do very well for a recharge. Carburetor: When a mother's carburetor floods it should be treated immediately with Kleenex and a soft shoulder. Brakes: See that she uses her brakes to slow down often and come to a full stop occasionally. (A squeaking sound indicates a need for a rest) Fuel: Most mothers can run indefinitely on coffee, leftovers and salads, But an occasional dinner for two at a nice restaurant will really add to her efficiency. Chassis: Mother when their bodies are properly maintained. Regular exercise should be encouraged and provided for as necessary. A change in hairdo or makeup in spring and fall are also helpful. If you notice the chassis begins to sag, immediately start a program of walking, jogging, swimming, or bike riding. These are most effective when done with fathers. Tune-ups: Mother need regular tune-ups. Compliments are both the cheapest and most effective way to keep a mother purring contentedly. If these instructions are followed consistently, this fantastic creation and gift from God, that we call MOTHER should last a lifetime and give good service and constant love to those who need her most. If They Are Going to Get You… Author, speaker and sports enthusiast Pat Williams, in his book A Lifetime of Success, give one of the best examples I know of a mother’s love. He tells of attending a very special Atlanta Braves’ baseball home opener on April 8, 1974. It was a night game against the Dodgers and it was a complete sellout. Williams looked around to see that, seated immediately behind him was singer Pearl Bailey. Up at the plate: the immortal Henry Aaron. On the line: Babe Ruth’s record of 714 career home runs. Aaron had tied the record and tonight he was aiming to break it. Understand that this was nearly 40 years ago. An African?American player was about to topple the great Babe Ruth--and a lot of people in the country didn’t like it. Aaron got a lot of mail that year--more than 930,000 letters in all, far more than any other person in the country. Most were fan letters--but about 100,000 of them were hate letters, some containing death threats. Williams says he was on the edge of his seat when Dodgers pitcher Al Downing hurled the ball toward the plate. Aaron swung and connected. The crack of his bat echoed through the stands. The ball was gone. Home run. Babe Ruth’s record was shattered. The ballpark went nuts. “As Aaron rounded second base,” says Williams, “a couple of teenagers--both white--jumped over the retaining wall and ran onto the field, chasing Aaron. For a moment, no one knew what they had in mind, but then it became clear: they were celebrating and cheering Aaron on. As Aaron crossed the plate, the dugout emptied as the Braves streamed onto the field to surround him, cheering and whooping it up. But amid all those ballplayers around Aaron was a short, sixty-eight?year?old black woman. She latched onto Aaron and wouldn’t let go of him. “Henry Aaron turned and said to her, ‘Mom! What are you doing here?’ “‘Baby,’ said the mother of the new home?run king, ‘if they’re gonna get you,’ (thinking of the death threats Aaron had received) ‘they’ve gotta get me first!’” That is love only a mother could have for her child. “If they’re gonna get you, they’ve gotta get me first!” Pat Williams, A Lifetime of Success, (Grand Rapids. MI: Fleming H. Revell, 2000), pp. 109-110, adapted by King Duncan What Goes Into A Home? The Bible does not say very much about homes; it says a great deal about the things that make them. It speaks about life and love and joy and peace and rest. If we get a house and put these into it, we shall have secured a home. John Henry Jowett, What Is a Mother? (Norwalk, Conn.: C.R. Gibson, 1977). _______________ Why Bother with Mother’s Day? This is a Mother's Day sermon. I’m preaching without apology and with appreciation for that time—honored institution without the benefit of which we wouldn’t be here! As ministers, we’re reminded not to get too sentimental about motherhood because: (a) for some, motherhood is an accident, and not always a welcome one; (b) for some, biological motherhood isn’t possible; (c) for some, mothers weren’t all that nice; (d) for some, motherhood under the very best of circumstances is still less than abed of roses and a primrose path. So, with all those qualifications, why bother with Mothers’ Day at all? I’ll tell you why —— because for all its stumbling blocks, pitfalls and broken dreams, for all the soiled diapers, soiled wallpaper and spoiled plans, we’re talking about a beautiful ideal, a natural part of God’s creative plan to bring love and caring to light. Motherhood is a constant demand for the gift of love and caring. Proclaim, “A Mother’s Day Sermon,” May 14, 1989. Am I Loved? I had a professor in Childhood Development who said, "All it would take to have a perfect world is just one generation of perfect parents." I believed that until mid-life, when I saw several nearly perfect parents who had terrible children. But the concept is generally true--we learn to love because we were loved first. We love, according to the Bible, because God loved us first. We all need to be loved. And we grow up testing whether we are indeed loved. One of the basic questions of our youth is, "Am I loved?" It is asked in the back seat of a car. It is asked at a party. It is asked with defiance at home. It is asked with incomplete homework at school. It is asked when drugs are offered around in friendship groups. It is asked when a gang leader suggests an initiation rite. "By this you know you are loved…." Everyone here today, mothers or not, needs to ask, "How am I demonstrating love?" Is it in a way that others can experience? Paul Sweet, This I Know outh fades; love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; A mother's secret hope outlives them all. Oliver Wendell Holmes, physician and poet A Call for Help A woman telephoned a friend and asked how she was feeling, "Terrible," came the reply over the wire, "my head's splitting and my back and legs are killing me. The house is a mess, and the kids are simply driving me crazy." Very sympathetically the caller said, "Listen, go and lie down, I'll come over right away and cook lunch for you, clean up the house, and take care of the children while you get some rest. By the way, how is Sam?" "Sam?" the complaining housewife gasped. "Who is Sam?" "My heavens," exclaimed the first woman, "I must have dialed the wrong number." There was a long pause. "Are you still coming over?" the harried mother asked hopefully. Dennis Marquardt adapted from Bobby Moore, Any Old Port in a Storm.

A Retreat with God

February 19, 2023 Exodus 24:12-18 A retreat with God Transfiguration Sunday Year A Prelude Welcome Call to Worship As God called to Moses from the mountain, we are called to be God’s people. As Jesus called the disciples to climb with him to the peak of another mountain, we are called to follow wherever he leads. As the disciples stood in awe at the sound of God’s voice, we are called to worship in wonder and praise. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Deborah Sokolove) Opening Prayer (Exodus 24, Matthew 17) Holy One, Light of light, God of all creation, long ago you showed yourself to the disciples in Jesus’ transfiguration— his face glowing like a field of daffodils on a bright, spring morning. Shine in us, around us, and through us, that the world may see your glory in the faces of your people— faces transfigured in the light of your love. Amen. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Deborah Sokolove) Song Every Time I Feel the Spirit UMH 404 Children’s Sermon Leader, wearing dark glasses, asks the children, "Do you know why I am wearing dark glasses?" (Pause) The Bible story for today says that Jesus took his friends Peter, James, and John up a mountain to pray. While they were praying, Jesus' face changed and his clothes became dazzling white, so bright it blinded their eyes. Then two men appeared, Moses and Elijah, and they began talking with Jesus about what would happen when Jesus went to Jerusalem. Suddenly a cloud came and covered them, and a voice said, "This is my Son, my Chosen. Listen to him." When they came down from the mountain, everything was "tranfigured." Talk together: If you saw Jesus in white robes coming down our center aisle to sit on the steps with us, what would you do? (Pause) Some of us might close our eyes, thinking this is too good to be true. Jesus here? In what way might Jesus be here with us right now? One of the ways is to use our faith imagination. Close your eyes. We are walking toward the hill where we can be alone. The sky is blue, the flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, and when we reach the hillside we sit down and invite Jesus to be with us. Suddenly he is there in bright, white robes. We are silent and feel the light breeze blow. A voice says, "This is my Son. Listen to him." We listen and Jesus speaks to us. (Pause) Then we do what we need to do and return to this place, knowing we can be with Jesus in our faith imagination whenever we wish. Now open your eyes. Prayer: Dear God, thank you for hearts to love, minds to think, and faith imagination to know your presence here and now, among us. Amen. (Elaine Ward, Sermonsuite) Prayer of Confession (Exodus 24, Matthew 17) Though we want to walk with Moses and see God’s holy radiance, we hide in the mist of our own desires, unable to perceive the presence of God’s grace. While we want a world of justice and peace, we walk in clouds of selfishness, unable to share God’s loving-kindness. Though we want to follow Jesus up the mountain, we cower in fear, unable to bear the light of God. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Deborah Sokolove) Words of Assurance (Matthew 17) In the blazing light of God’s grace, Jesus touches us to say, “Get up and do not be afraid.” In the name of Christ, all is forgiven. Amen. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Deborah Sokolove) Passing the Peace of Christ Scripture Exodus 24:12-18 Sermon - A Retreat with God February is always an interesting month weatherwise – you get all four seasons of weather in one month. It’s cold, its warm. One day its snowing, the next its raining and the next day it all turns into ice and you start all over again. This year, the weather has been a little unusual. But every February there is a point when you just know that the weather has broken and spring is on the way. It was very subtle this year – but it is a time when there is more rain than snow – and it gets very foggy. It is as if the clouds have descended on the land – giving everything a very mysterious feeling. In many ancient cultures it was believed that God lived in the clouds. So many religious places where built upon a mountain in the midst of the clouds. It is said that we all have those spiritual places where we can go to feel the presence of God. Today, that place may not be in the mountains, but in a church, in fellowship with friends, in prayer, in the sanctuary, sometimes we even find God in our daily routine. One teacher remembers the day one of our students came into class late. She asked him what was going, and he said that his mother had just passed away – and he came to school because that was the place that he needed to be. Where are the places in your life that you can do and feel God’s presence? Sometimes, if there is no other place for us to find God – we can find God in our imagination. Our sanctified imagination – the place where we can picture God, our prayers, the bible in our minds. Thursday, the pastors in our district all got together to meet with the bishop. Most of us there really appreciated his honesty, transparency and willingness to address many elephants in the room. He even gave us a handout of all he had to say – I will have to share this with Debbie and with church council. His talk called Identity, Integrity and Imagination. Church history is being rewritten right before our eyes. He said that so much of the church has been disrupted by the pandemic and other things. Our church has been fairly stable. But about 1/3 of churches all over the country have had to make some serious decisions. And only about 16 churches in our conference have asked to go into discernment in order to disaffiliate with the united methodist church. Once again, nationwide there have been over 1000 who want to leave. With all of that, this is an age of transfiguration. Well, that is an obsolete word. Technically only Moses and Jesus were ever transfigured. But we all have definitely been transformed from the circumstances of our world – if not outright disrupted. In this age of disruption – people are looking for the voice of God. Bishop Scherin said that it is important for us to make sure that the church is that safe space for people to come to find the presence of God. In scripture – Moses had a long history of meeting with God, talking with God. He was the only person to get a glimpse of God. But our scripture is not a story of Moses talking with God by himself. He bought his two nephews, his protege Joshua. And 70 community leaders. It was as if he had a congregational council meeting with God as the leader of the meeting. Our scripture is a part of a bigger story – contained in chapters 19-24. The community was getting bigger, so they needed a set of guidelines to govern themselves. God tells Moses to come up to the mountain to get the laws and to bring the community to ratify the covenant. They all come up to have a meal with God. Eventually Moses and Joshua and a body guard go further up the mountain to talk with God. When it gets cloudy – Moses goes even further up and talks with God for 40 days. But the important part is that this was not the work of just one person, but of the whole congregation. After this encounter, they not only have the ten commandments, but they also start building the first house of God. Everyone had a part in creating that safe space for the people to come to meet God. What about us today? How can we work together to help others feel the presence of God? How can we make sure that God is the heart and soul of our community? The presence of God is not something that we can see or identify – but you can feel it. In Deuteronomy, when Moses first encounters God – he heard a voice, but could see no form in the fire. In others stories – Elijah, Jesus, Paul – they could hear God’s voice very clearly – but couldn’t describe what God looked like. Arthur J. Gossip, was visiting his parishioners in a working district of Glasgow. At four o'clock, after an exhausting day, Gossip stood at the bottom of a fivestory tenement building where one of his parishioners lived on the top floor. It was a long way to the top and he was tired. Promising himself that he would come back tomorrow, Gossip turned to leave. Then he saw a vision. He saw a pair of stooped grey shoulders climbing the steps. He realized it was the Master. A voice seemed to say, "Then I'll have to go alone." Gossip suddenly felt revitalized and started up the steps. "We went together," he reported later. And that is the key to a spiritual life that does not leave usthat does not fade into a distant memory. When God speaks to us – it is usually a command. We are compelled to take some action – to move forward, to call someone, to get up and do something, or to come here. In our scripture, God told Moses to come to the mountain and wait. This story parallels with the gospel of Matthew when Jesus is called to go to the mountain with his disciples. The clouds appear and God says this is my beloved son listen to him. God’s command is listen. When God speaks there is always a command, but there is also a gift. God always tells us who God is, but God also tells us who we are. We get out identity through obeying God. When we met with bishop this week his talk was entitled he told us his call story. His name is Dan Schwerin – rhymes with tangerine. He told us how he felt God speak to him when he was 17. He also reminded us who we are as United Methodist – a biblical, conventenal, grace grounded, mission driven justice seeking global movement always renewed by Identity, integrity and imagination. Most clergy really appreciated our time meeting the bishop – who is soft spoken and very new in his identity as a bishop – but very transparent and willing to address several elephants in the room. I will have to share his worksheet with Debbie and the church council. But we have to find our identity as individuals, but most importantly as the church. What If? What if the church lived out its life in such a way others could not help but see it? What if Christians were so different that society became long-neck gawkers when looking to see the working of the congregation? What if Christians were the people at which children and adults pointed their fingers and said, “Hey, look at that!”? What if we so lived the love, salvation, peace, and hope of God that we seemed out of place in the world around us? What if we were truly transformed into the very people of God? Wouldn’t it be fun, exciting and wonderful if people were lining the sidewalks around our churches just to see what makes us so odd? Stephen E. Loftis, Transfigured My last story is an old legend… There is a modern parable. In this parable Jesus goes walking one day along the streets of a big city. He roams rather aimlessly, letting his feet take him where they will--the way you or I might do when we're just out walking. On his walk, he sees many people and many things, but only three stay on his mind. When he returns home that night, God the Father asks, "Did you enjoy your walk today, My Son? Did you see anything interesting?" Jesus answers, "Oh yes, Father, I enjoyed the walk and three times I saw myself along the way. The first time, I saw myself in a priest walking along with his hands clasped and muttering to himself. He was in much anguish for his people. The second time, I saw myself in a lonely lad who used his "˜street smarts' as a means of survival. He was an accomplished pickpocket. The third time was when I saw myself in a woman with a child in each hand. Her husband had left her and she struggled to love and care for her children without the help of their father." Whereupon, the following dialogue takes place between Jesus and the Father. . . . "When will you ever learn, My Son?" the Father says with a sigh. "But I did learn, Father," Jesus replies. "Did I not send you to earth, My only Son, to tell them about My goodness, and My love?" asks the Father. "Yes, Father," Jesus says, "and I did. But I also listened, and they told Me about their pain." "Is not their pain of their own choosing?" the Father asks. Jesus answers, "Father, whatever it comes from, pain is pain." Sternly now, the Father says, "My Son, You let your human heart carry you away." "Yes Father, I did," Jesus whispers. Then the Father smiles, and reaches out and embraces His Son, happy that His son went walking in the big city streets that day. (4) Moses came down from the mountain and gave us the law; Jesus came down from the mountain and gave us himself. We have been called to create safe space for all of God’s children to come and feel the presence of God. Amen. Song Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies UMH 173 Pastoral Prayer for Transfiguration Sunday Gracious God, God of the covenant, the cloud of your splendor and the fire of your love revealed your Son on the mountain heights. As your Son drew apart to be in prayer with you, we offer our prayers for the transformation of the world and the church. We pray that as we gather around the table we may be transformed by the grace of Christ. We pray that the food we bring will be used to show the love that you have for us and all creation. We pray that today we may be a living sacrifice for those who need to know the truth of your life-giving Gospel. Holy Father, mighty and immortal, you are beyond our knowing, yet we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ, whose compassion illumines the world. Transform us into the likeness of the love of Christ, who renewed our humanity so that we may share in his divinity. Help us to share the risk and challenge of living our faith. By your Spirit, turn our fear to courage and our confusion to confidence Sovereign Lord, Father of all in the power of the Holy Spirit, grant to us the strength to turn our face toward Jerusalem to bear our cross, so that your glory and love and mercy may be revealed. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. — posted on I’m Just Saying by mrawle2000, a United Methodist Elder in the Louisiana Conference. Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment Invitation to the Offering Can you call to mind a time in your life when you were so inspired, you wanted to move mountains? Some moment when you were so filled with gratitude you were willing to respond with super generosity? We hear of Peter’s moment on the mountain, seeing Jesus “transfigured” (changed into glory in the presence of Moses and Elijah), which led to Peter’s offer to build three dwellings; one for each of these heroes of faith. Matthew records the remarkable story of God breaking into that moment, claiming Jesus as God’s own Son and instructing the disciples to listen to Jesus. And the three disciples responded with fear! You may find fear a first response to your desire for super generosity. However, Jesus spoke into the moment, with the familiar words, “do not be afraid”. Today, I want to speak those words to you, as well. Do not be afraid to respond in gratitude, with super generosity, to your own moment of recognizing the amazing blessing we’ve received: this gift of life. It will not last forever, so I encourage you to respond with gratitude, as you offer your most generous gifts for Christ’s work here and to the ends of the earth. Prayer of Thanksgiving Loving God, we offer you the gift of our lives, recognizing all you provide for each of us. Please receive the symbols of each of our lives presented in this offering. And accept, as well, the good intentions of our hearts and minds as we offer you our time and talent, that we might live in gratitude rather than in fear. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook May the shining radiance of God warm you. May the dazzling splendor of God surprise you. And the glory of God transform you. May you come up to the mountaintop. May you remember the experience with wonder and awe. And may you come down renewed and empowered For the glory of God and the hope of the world. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Rev. Dr. Cheryl Lindsay) Community Time Benediction (2 Peter 1, Matthew 17) Walk in light and truth. See the light of Christ in every face. Be the light of Christ to all you meet. Amen. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Deborah Sokolove) Additional Illustrations Children know that kind of exhilaration instinctively. In his book SERMON IN STONE, Mel Ellis tells of a class of geography students. They had taken a tour of the earth by book. At the end of the semester they were asked to list what they considered the Seven Wonders of the World. The top picks were the following: Egypt's Great Pyramid, the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon, the Panama Canal, the Empire State Building, St. Peter's Basilica, and China's Great Wall. While tallying the votes, the teacher noticed that one little girl had not turned in a paper. She approached the student and asked if she was having problems with her list. The girl responded, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many." The teacher replied, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help." Reluctantly, the little girl stood up and began to read her paper. "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are to touch and to taste, to see and to hear, and then to run and to laugh and to love." Can you make a better list of the seven wonders? PITY EVEN MORE THE PERSON WHO YEARNS FOR THE MOUNTAIN OF EXULTATION, BUT REFUSES THE VALLEY OF SERVICE. Once Billy Graham took part in a television show in London that included some wellknown British personalities. The host was discussing the current evangelistic crusade in Earls Court. He askedas they always do"Do all those people who come forward really `last'?" A prominent actress seated next to him didn't like the question. She commented, "What if they don't?" Everyone looked a bit startled, including Graham. She went on: "What if, in all their lives, they have just that one beautiful moment with God as they come and stand at His altar? Isn't that better than nothing?" (2) Well, perhaps. Then again, perhaps not. Some people have a mountaintop experience and they exclaim, "This is it!" And they think they have captured the essence of the Christian faith in a bottle that they can slip in their pocket and take back home with them. Later they open the bottle on Easter or Christmas eve, and they find it empty. The experience has not lasted. It is now but a pleasant, though distant memory. But, because they have been on the mountain even for a moment, they think they possess the real thing. They think they know what it is to follow Jesus. It might be better if they had never ascended the mountain if they have substituted a momentary experience for a lifetime of discipleship. The mountaintop is not enough. Christ still walks that valley today. Bear with me for a moment while I draw a parallel to the world of faith. TO SOME CHRISTIANS, FAITH THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE AN ELEMENT OF MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE IS NO FAITH AT ALL! It is like a rose that has no scent. Have you noticed that many people today seem to be hungry for some experience of the supernatural? The dramatic upswing of interest in the existence of angels, of witches, of near death experiences, etc. speak of a longing that people have to go beyond the merely rational. Francis Caponi, a Roman Catholic priest, was drawing parallels between Elvis Presley and Jesus Christ. He noted an interesting phenomenon. "Both of their figures," he said, "are discerned in billboards, refrigerator rust stains, [and] strangely shaped vegetables." (5) He was referring, of course, to those strange reports that pop up from time to time of apparitions of Mary, of Jesus, even of Elvis. Be careful. Our minds have a tendency to organize reality in a way that does not always fit the facts. John Mowery tells the story of a mountain climber who was desperate to conquer one of the world's great mountains. He initiated his climb after years of preparation. But he wanted the glory to himself; therefore, he went up alone. He started climbing and it was becoming later, and later. He did not prepare for camping but decided to keep on going. Soon it got dark . . . night fell with heaviness at a very high altitude. Visibility was zero. Everything was black. There was no moon, and the stars were blocked by clouds. As he was climbing a ridge at about 100 meters from the top, this proud climber slipped and fell. Falling rapidly he could only see blotches of darkness that passed. He felt a terrible sensation of being sucked in by gravity. He kept falling . . . and in those anguishing moments good and bad memories passed through his mind. He thought certainly he would die. But then he felt a jolt that almost tore him in half. Yes! Like any good mountain climber he had staked himself with a long rope tied to his waist. In those moments of stillness, suspended in the air he had no other choice but to shout, "HELP ME, GOD! HELP ME!" All of a sudden he heard a deep voice from heaven. "What do you want me to do?" "SAVE ME," he cried. "Do you REALLY think that I can save you?" asked the voice. "OF COURSE, MY GOD," he replied. "Then cut the rope that is holding you up," said the voice. There was another moment of silence and stillness. The man just held tighter to the rope. The rescue team says that the next day they found a frozen mountain climber hanging strongly to a rope . . . Two feet off the ground. (5) Someone today in this room is hanging two feet off the ground. You are facing a tough, uphill battle. You are lonely and you are scared. But you have not been able to let go and let God. I pray that you will let go of the rope. You are not alone in this universe. Someone has come into this world from another world. Someone knows what you are going through. He has suffered too. He is who He says He is. Won't you trust Him with your life?

Fruit from the Tree of Life

May 22, 2022 Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 Fruit from the Tree of Life 6th Sunday of Easter Year C Opening Song Welcome Introit Call to Worship Many: Let the Creator be home among us One: In our hearts, may God be welcome Many: May God’s love shape our every thought One: May our actions lead to God’s justice Many: May our words be words of life One: May God’s Spirit lead us Many: May God’s peace dwell within us All: Amen. ( Michael Anthony Howard – UCC Worship Ways) Song Shall We Gather at the River UMH 723 Spotlight on Volunteers Prayer of Illumination Bountiful God, you gather your people into your realm, and you promise us food from your tree of life. Nourish us with your word, that empowered by your Spirit we may love one another and the world you have made, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America website) Scripture Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 Sermon Fruit from the Tree of Life A Sunday School teacher asked her students where God lived. After the usual answers of heaven and in my heart, Bobby spoke up and said, “God lives in the bathroom at our house!” “Why the bathroom?” inquired the teacher. “I don’t know,” replied Bobby. “I only know that my Dad gets up every morning and beats on the bathroom door where my sister is taking forever to get ready for school and exclaims, ‘My God, are you still in there?’ God lives in the bathroom at our house.” Where does God live at your house? Is He on the front porch looking in or locked in the bathroom trying to get out? That is a good question for all of us to think about. And of course the easy answer is that God lives in heaven. So we also have to ask ourselves, Where is heaven. Is heaven a place, a time, a feeling? Revelations 21-22 is John’s vision of heaven. We don’t get to read all of his description of a perfect cubed city with 12 gates, three on each sides each door designed with fine jewels. It is a shining light. With a river running through it, no sea – because sea causes trouble and sin, but a tree of life so big that it is on both sides of the river. The doors are open all of the time. The book of revelation is a series of visions designed not to tell the future, but to address the present situation of the people. Chapters 21-22 are the end of the book, with John’s last vision of a new heaven and a new earth. It is not a vision where we are taken up into the sky one person at a time, and all of the bad people are left behind. There is not a judgement day where the good people get to come and all of the bad people are condemned to hell. In John’s heaven the gates are open 24/7 with no need to ever close them. People can come in any time, and there is no St. Peter standing at the pearly gate. John says that those who are sinners have no desire to enter. John was desperately trying to give hope to the present situation. He was trying to point out that our problems will be solved in a time and a place. Not always our time and place, but eventually. He is pointing out that God’s presence will solve all of our problems. In New Jerusalem, there is no church to go to – the whole city is the church. There is no sun, God’s light is our light to see clearly night never comes. The tree of live produces a different crop every month to take care of all of our needs. And it produces leaves to heal the nations – there is no war, no oppressions, on border disputes. In heaven we can all live whole and complete. What is it that we all need to feel whole and complete right now? Many years ago when I was going to prep school in Milwaukee, the students loved to walk past a nearby factory from which often emanated some simply wonderful smells. The factory made a product whose name seemed to perfectly fit the heavenly aromas that would occasionally fill the atmosphere of the neighborhood. The factory made Ambrosia Chocolate! For a chocolate lover like myself, there could be no better name for such a delectable food. You see, in ancient Greek mythology ambrosia was the name of the food of the gods! I remember years ago there was a part of the west side that smelled like chocolate because of the brach factory, and in forest park where the ferrerra candy company there is a pleasant smell all of the time. But how does one know that something is "heavenly"? I don't know of anyone who has been to heaven and come back to tell about it. Yet when we find a food that tantalizes our taste buds, we are not afraid to pretend that we know all about heaven. An exquisite piece of chocolate, a luscious slice of our favorite fruit pie, or a bite of tender steak ... what else could we possible call them? They must be ambrosia, food fit for the gods! We can find a little glimpse of heaven in various places in our lives. Where is heaven? Heaven is where the waters of baptism are poured and the name of God is spoken. Heaven is where the body and blood of Jesus are offered in bread and wine. Heaven is where the guilty are released from their deadly past through the granting of forgiveness. Heaven is where the stranglehold of death and hopelessness is broken. When enemies embrace, when spouses reconcile, when neighbors are neighborly, when victims refuse to get even, when the powerful offer to serve instead of demanding that they be served, there is heaven. There is one more thing that must be noted in the vision in Revelation. John saw “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.” This suggests that we can have Heaven on earth to a certain degree when Christ lives and rules in our hearts. It will not be perfect, for there is always sin on earth, but the joys of Heaven can continue to increase on earth among those who hold Christ in their hearts. He keeps changing their lives into more and more of his likeness. This is what the Lord’s Prayer means when we pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” When we mean what we pray, something of God’s heaven is let down on earth in our hearts. The Holy Spirit brings this to pass. Paul put it this way in the Bible, “If any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” The C.S.S. Publishing Compa, RENEWAL OF THE NEW, by John R. Brokhoff A survivor of the 1989 airplane crash near Sioux City, Iowa, said, surprised that she was still alive, “Here I was, sitting on the edge of eternity.” But aren’t we all sitting on the edge of eternity every day of our lives? I believe that there is a time and a place where we will all see God more clearly. One of the promises of John’s heaven is that we will all see the face of God. The bible gives stories of how no one can see the face of God on earth. What a priviledge. But the journey to heaven begins right here in our hearts. There once was a very unhappy old man. For him, things were never right and, thus, he grumbled quite a bit. He complained that he had to get up in the morning, and when nightfall came it was too soon. He complained when he had to work, but found it boring when he did not work. He talked about how people paid insufficient attention to him, yet when others spoke to him he seemed annoyed or irritated. He hated it when it rained and found the sun too hot when it shined. In winter, he longed for the summer and in summer for the fall. All-in-all the old man was miserable. One day he stopped at a fruit stand, but things there were no better. He found some of the fruit was too ripe and the rest was not ripe enough. He left, disgusted, but as he did, the fruit seller said, "I wish you new eyes, sir, child eyes." "New eyes," thought the old man as he walked away. "I have never used glasses; my vision has never been sharper." A week later, he again stopped at the fruit stand. The fruit seller had the fruit he didn't want and did not have the fruit he wanted. As he was leaving the fruit seller said, "I wish you kingdom eyes, sir." "Kingdom eyes?" This puzzled the old man. But no matter, he was busy, and thus let it pass. Sometime later, the man stopped at the fruit stand once again. It was, however, the same old story. Everything he didn't want and nothing he wanted; some things overripe and others not ripe enough. And as he left the fruit seller told him, "I wish you treasure-hunting eyes, sir." The man was perplexed at the comment, not knowing what the seller was saying. In spite of himself, the old man began to think about what the fruit seller had been saying to him. What did he mean by new eyes, child eyes, kingdom eyes, and treasure-hunting eyes? The next time he went to the stand, he pressed the fruit seller to to explain. "Well, you see," the fruit seller began, "one day there was a stranger in town. He spoke of many things, but a few things really stuck in my head. He spoke of the kingdom of God being within you and that in order to find it one had to become like a child. On another occasion the stranger was present and so, too, was a man blind from birth. He went to the blind man and asked if he wanted to see and, of course, the man said, ‘Yes.' And then the man's eyes were opened and he was delighted in all that he saw. I was confused about all this and thus I spoke to the stranger saying, ‘Please, sir, give me new eyes.' And he responded, ‘I will. I give you child eyes, kingdom eyes, and treasure-hunting eyes.' I thanked him and he left. "That was the last time I saw the man, but from that time forward I saw things differently. Where before I saw only darkness, I now saw stars and fireflies. When before I felt only pain, I now discovered a new door to joy. While before I could see nothing worthwhile, now I found much at which to marvel. Where before I lived in a desert of doubt and despair, now I found a fountain of faith, and where in the past I was irritated at people, now I saw something wonderful in them, something that reminded me of the stranger and I rejoiced." The old man left trying not to think of the fruit seller's story, but no matter how hard he tried he could not shake it off. The more he thought about it the more he wished for new eyes for himself. He began to think about the stranger hoping that he would return. If he did he would ask for new eyes, also. He worried about how he would make his request to the stranger so he practiced. In fact, he found it easy to put his request to music. He sang the refrain all day: "Give me new eyes, sir, child eyes, kingdom eyes, treasure-hunting eyes. Give me new eyes." Then one day he stopped at the fruit stand and saw the fruit seller was very sad. "What has happened?" he asked. The fruit seller replied, "I have just received news that the stranger has been arrested and will be put to death today." The old man went home and cried for his chance for new eyes was now gone. Yet, because the song had become so much a part of his life, he continued to sing it, and to his great surprise, three days after the stranger was put to death, he suddenly felt like scales had fallen from his eyes, and he began to see things differently. Where before he saw only darkness, now he saw light. Where before he saw only the injuries done against him, now he saw how much he was loved and he was able to demonstrate forgiveness that healed his wounds. Where before he had seen nothing of value, now he found many hidden treasures. Where before he experienced only boredom and suspicion, now he lived in wonderment and trust, and where before people had irritated him, he now saw in them something that reminded him of the stranger. And he knew that the stranger lived.1 The old man was bitter, arrogant, and resisted change, but through the persistence and love of the fruit seller he came to realize his need for transformation, conversion, and a new way of thinking. He needed the new eyes which the stranger had given the fruit seller. In the end he found what he needed through the power of the stranger. This fable is clearly an Easter story of the new life that Jesus' resurrection brings, not only to himself, but more importantly to all of God's people, Seeing a new heaven and a new earth, begins with our ability to see the presence of God anywhere that it may be hiding. We see God clearly in the midst of our deepest pain, in the wounds of life, in those things that we are not willing to admit about our lives. When we see God in a certain situation, we can also watch as history unfolds and God reveals Godself even more until we too have our own revelation in the story of God and of heaven and of our place in it. So I will ask again – where does God live in your life? What room in your heart can you find God. Where is heaven on earth for you. Is that not what all of you will get to do through your daily work in the week ahead? As you leave this place, renewed at the Lord's table, refreshed by his promises, strengthened by his Spirit, through your deeds of love and kindness you will give this world all too often suffering in its own kind of hell ... a glimpse of heaven on earth. Because Christ has triumphed, already now a new world is beginning to take shape, a world in which every tear will be wiped away, where death will be no more, where mourning, crying, and pain will be a distant memory, where there will be heaven on earth. Amen. The church can be that place, because it can be the place where we have our own visions of how heaven can come here on earth. The one thing that I like to most about John’s vision is that this amazing and dazzling place that would attract even the darkest soul – has gates that are not guarded and are always open. Anytime you are ready to come in, even it if is 3 in the morning, you can come. Once you get there you have no reason to leave. Heaven is an open invitation to sit in the presence of God and to be whole and complete. The doorway to heaven is right here. Our faith is always an open invitation to find the presence of God right here. Did you know that the word come appears in the bible over 1600 times. In John 14 God says that God will come and make our home with them – God will love them so that they can love others. Where is heaven? Where have you gotten of a glimpse of heaven? And how has it affected your life and the lives of those around you? I leave you with this quote from Wendell Berry – to be healthy is to literally be whole – our sense of completeness is not just about ourselves, but it is also the sense of belonging to others and to our place. Community with its fullest sense of place and all of its creatures is where we find ourselves and God. May we find heaven today in the hopes and dreams of one another and those around us. Amen. Song – For the Healing of the Nations UMH 428 Pastoral Prayer Children’s Time The Last Page in the Book Stewardship Moment John’s Revelation challenges many of us with strange images and what seems like coded messages. The image of the tree of life, however, can be seen as an image blossoming hopeful and full before us: a tree with leaves for the healing of the nations. In our own nation, we know of tree leaves which are healing (witch hazel leaves treat sensitive skin and inflammation; sassafras leaves, crushed for tea, help heal respiratory ailments; hawthorn leaves mixed into medicine respond to help ease cardiac issues.) In John’s vision, this tree, growing in the new Jerusalem, is a gift for all the nations of the world. Its leaves are given for individuals and nations to consume in order to repent of their brokenness, allowing them to be healed and made whole/complete. While we do not have access to this tree or its healing leaves, we do have opportunity to share what God has given us. Our offering this morning is one opportunity for each of us to be a healing agent in a hurting world. Our combined giving allows this congregation to be part of making real God’s intention for a wholly/holy world. Your gift helps! With generous hearts and hands, let us share our morning offering. Prayer of Thanksgiving Good and gracious God, we yearn for a day when the nations of this world are turned to you and your desire for justice and peace. Please use these gifts, and the lives of each of us, to help move us toward the day when your Realm comes on earth, as it is in heaven. AMEN (From the Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Even as Jesus departs, he promises that we will never be alone. Therefore, we can go out in confidence to love and serve the Lord. And as you go, May the love of God, The peace of the Risen Christ, And the presence of the Holy Spirit Guide you and keep you, this day, and every day. Alleluia, Amen. (Rev. Molly Spangler – Presbyterian Outlook) Community Time Benediction Beloved of God, go to be a blessing. Bring the good news of forgiveness and healing to this hurting, lonely world. Bring hope to all, for God’s love is poured out for all God’s people. AMEN. (Nancy C. Townley – United Methodist Ministry Matters) Additional illustrations OF COURSE, WHAT IS TRUE IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE WE LOVE IS ALSO TRUE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. Time is precious. It gets away quickly. Today is the appointed hour. If we are going to say yes to Christ, it needs to be this moment. We must seize the day. Eternity awaits. There is no time like the present. An unknown author helps us put it all into perspective. He or she writes: To realize the value of “one month", ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of “one week," ask the editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of “one hour," ask the lovers who are waiting to meet. To realize the value of “one minute," ask the person who missed the train. To realize the value of “one second," ask the person who just avoided an accident. To realize the value of “one millisecond," ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics. Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time. When Thomas Edison lay dying, he could hardly speak, according to his widow. His doctor, who was also a friend of the family, observed that Edison was trying to say something. He bent down very close and heard the inventor whisper, “It’s very beautiful over there.” Those were his last words. Those could be a person’s first words in Heaven: “It’s very beautiful here.” In 1914 Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, an English explorer, led an expedition to the South Pole. As the ice began to close in on his boat, he had to leave some of his men stranded on Elephant Island as he went for help. He secured another ship on South Georgia Island and returned for his men. After several unsuccessful attempts, the weather finally permitted him to sail through to where the men were, pick them up, and then get out before the ice closed up again. Shackleford asked his crew why they had their things packed and standing by when he came back. They said, "Sir, when you left, you said you would come back for us, so we never gave up hope. Whenever the weather looked favorable, we would pack up our things and say, Maybe Shackleford will return for us today.' We were always ready for your coming." (5) We don't know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future. There is One who is returning for us. We are not forgotten. There is one who has gone to prepare a place for us. An African-American poet once put it like this: There's a king and captain high, And He's coming by and by, And He'll find me hoeing cotton when He comes. You can hear His legions charging in the regions of the sky, And He'll find me hoeing cotton when He comes. There's a Man they thrust aside, Who was tortured till He died, And He'll find me hoeing cotton when He comes. He was hated and rejected, He was scorned and crucified, And He'll find me hoeing cotton when He comes. When He comes! When he comes! He'll be crowned by saints and angels when He comes. They'll be shouting out Hosanna! to the Man that men denied, And I'll kneel among my cotton when He comes. (6) The future holds much promise ” but the greatest promise is this: Hope wins because God wins! Evelyn Husband lost her husband Rick when the space shuttle Columbia exploded into pieces upon re-entry to the earth’s atmosphere. Evelyn said “As I stood there in shock with my son Matthew, seven, and my daughter Laura, twelve, deep inside I knew God was going to walk me through this somehow. I knew it because He had walked me through other crises earlier in my life.” To live is to let go. Sometimes life asks us to let go of a lot. A job is lost and family income is drastically reduced. Illness strikes and the whole matrix of family life is rearranged. Death comes; all that has been nailed down for so long is now breaking loose. We raised two boys at our house. They were both high school football players. They consumed gallons of milk and juice a day, not to mention the tons of food. When the last one went away to college, a gallon of milk spoiled in the refrigerator. As Sandy was pouring the spoiled milk down the drain the tears were flowing right along with it. A new era of life had arrived. A high school girl went to a religious gathering at her school and found Christ. She had not been raised in the church, and had no idea how to express her newfound faith to her family, so she decided to live it instead of announce it. A spoiled, selfish, irritable teenager started being kind to her parents. Her attitude changed. She even cleaned up her room. Finally her parents asked, “What has happened to you? You are different.” She replied, “I have become a Christian. I am trying to do what Jesus would do.” Her parents responded, “If Christ can do that for you, we want to know more.” Paul teaches us that, if any one is in Christ they are a new creation. The old is gone and the new has come. Christ is making all things new. May His love abide in your home. May His comfort come to your soul. May He create in you a new heart and a steadfast spirit that His kingdom may come on earth as it is in heaven. Into our homes, into our homes, come into our homes, Lord Jesus, Come in today, come in to stay. Come into our homes, Lord Jesus. ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., Faith Breaks, by J. Howard Olds CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Sermons for Sundays in Lent and Easter: But!, by Steven E. Albertin I recently heard a story about an urban congregation in a changing neighborhood of one of our eastern cities. The congregation had decided not to flee to the suburbs but to stay in the city and serve the needs of its crumbling neighborhood. The congregation had decided that in order to save souls, it had to start by saving its neighborhood. As a result, the church council decided that instead of repairing aging stained-glass windows, it would simply replace them with a more functional clear glass. Repair would not only have been costly but also would have meant repairing the glass of an image of the heavenly Jerusalem. The council felt that such an image was too otherworldly for a congregation committed to justice in the city. Then someone pointed out that when you stood in the sanctuary and looked out through that old stained-glass image of the heavenly Jerusalem and saw the neighborhood surrounding the church, suddenly that decaying neighborhood appeared in a whole new light. That window literally reflected the mission of that congregation. Through their ministry of compassion and to the needs of their neighborhood, they would be a bit of heaven on earth. Through them the people in their neighborhood, struggling to eke out a meager living in a hostile world, could catch a glimpse of the victory already won through the blood of the lamb.