Those Who Weep Will Be Comforted

November 2, 2025 All Saint’s Day Luke 6:20-31 Those who weep will be comforted Year C Prelude Greeting Introit Invitation to Worship A thousand days are but a moment to God; All flesh is grass, and withers away. Still we treasure our days with those whom we love, And reluctantly give them back to God. On this day, we thank God for the saints in our lives. Let us worship God. In the beginning, God called the world into being, saying, “Let there be light!” In the fullness of time, Jesus came from God to us, saying, “I am the Light of the world.” In our everyday life, we see the work of the saints, The ones in whom God’s light shines. So let us give thanks for the saints this day, And let us worship God. We gather this morning to remember our call: To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God. We bring with us the events of the week in the world and in our lives, Trying to know how to be just and loving and humble in the midst of it all. We gather here, and see those who are doing justice, who are kind beyond measure, who set the example for humility. With gratitude for living saints, with thankfulness for the purpose of faith, let us worship God. “Written by Beth Merrill Neel on her blog, ‘Hold Fast to What Is Good’. Used with permission. Song For all the Saints UMH 711 A Sermon for all Ages 🌿 Children’s Moment: “Seeds of Love” (Props: a fresh pomegranate and a small bowl or plate) Opening (Hold up the pomegranate.) Good morning, everyone! Do you know what this is? That’s right — it’s a pomegranate! It’s a fruit that’s full of hundreds of tiny red seeds. You can’t tell from the outside, but when you open it up, you find that all the good things — the juicy, sweet seeds — are hidden inside. Connecting Story A long time ago, people told a story about a mother named Demeter who loved her daughter Persephone very, very much. One day, Persephone had to go away for a while, and Demeter was so sad that she stopped making things grow. But after a time, Persephone came back — and when she did, flowers bloomed again and the world was full of life. It’s a story that reminds us something important — that love never really goes away. Even when someone we love has to go to heaven, that love is still here, like seeds planted in the ground. And God helps those seeds grow into kindness and memories that keep blooming in our hearts. Faith Connection Today is All Saints Day — a special Sunday when we remember people who loved us and taught us about God. Some of them might be in heaven now. We may miss them — and that’s okay. Jesus said, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” That means God is close to us when we are sad. Just like this pomegranate, our love for others is full of seeds — seeds that can grow into acts of kindness, generosity, and joy. Closing (Gently tap the pomegranate or scoop out a few seeds.) Each seed is like a memory, or a piece of love we can share. Maybe one seed is helping a friend. Another is saying “I love you.” Another is remembering Grandma or Grandpa and smiling when we think of them. Every seed of love we plant helps God make the world a little brighter. Let’s pray: “Dear God, thank you for the people we love and the people we miss. Help us plant seeds of love and kindness every day, until we see them again in your heavenly garden. Amen.” Scripture Luke 6:20-31 Sermon Those who weep will be comforted Here’s a 10-minute All Saints Day sermon based on Luke 6:20–31 (“Blessed are you who weep now… love your enemies… do to others as you would have them do to you”), weaving in the story of Demeter and the pomegranate as a tender reflection on grief and love. (Sermon totally generated by ChatGPT version 5) Sermon Title: “The Blessing Hidden in Our Tears” Scripture: Luke 6:20–31 Jesus looks at his disciples and says, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” These are strange blessings—words that reach into the ache of human life. Jesus is not blessing pain for its own sake, but the deep, transforming love that pain can uncover. On All Saints Day, when our hearts remember those we have lost, these blessings speak directly to the mystery of grief and grace. The Story of Demeter and the Pomegranate There’s an old Greek story about Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, and her daughter Persephone. One day Persephone is taken to the underworld by Hades. Demeter’s grief is so vast that the earth itself stops producing grain; nothing grows, the world turns cold. Eventually, Zeus intervenes, and Persephone is allowed to return—but because she has eaten six pomegranate seeds in the underworld, she must spend six months each year below and six months above. So the seasons were born—winter and spring, death and rebirth, grief and joy intertwined. It’s an ancient story, not Christian, but it tells a deep truth we know too well: love and loss cannot be separated. Where there is deep love, there will be deep grief. And where there is grief, love still lingers—ripening like seeds in the dark earth. Once there was a beautiful young girl called Persephone. Her mother was Demeter, the Goddess of the growing things. Demeter and her daughter lived in a world where it was always summer. Green things were always blooming and the sun shone warm and sweet. One day while she was out with her friends, Persephone felt a trembling beneath her feat and heard a rumbling. The ground split open and Hades, God of the underworld, appeared driving a chariot. He snatched Persephone and took her back into the earth with him. The ground closed up again with a huge roar and all that was left of Persephone was a bunch of flowers on the ground. Demeter searched everywhere, but she could not find her daughter. For days and days she looked for Persephone. Her grief was so great that the earth began to grow cold and all the green things died. There was no food, and a terrible hunger came to the people. In the underworld, meanwhile, Persephone came to see that Hades wasn’t as scary as she first thought. He had been so lonely in the underworld, he told her of his longing to keep her there with him. Persephone missed her mother and the bright world above ground. But her new status as Queen of the underworld and her love for Hades gave her reason to stay with him. She believed that she had important work to do deep under the ground. Persephone knew that if she ate or drank anything in the underworld, she would have to stay there forever. Even though Hades begged her too have just a sip, or one bite of food, she didn’t’. Demeter had finally learned where Persephone was. She insisted that she be returned to her. Hades sadly hitched his horses to his chariot and prepared to take Persephone back. But before they left, he offered Persephone one last thing to eat – a ripe, blood red pomegranate. Looking him in the eye, Persephone took six seeds and ate them. They went back above ground, up through a crack in the earth. Persephone threw herself into her mothers arms, joyous to be reunited. The earth again grew rich with flowers and the sun shone once more. But, because Persephone had eaten six pomegranate seeds, it was decided that for six months of each year, she must return to the underworld with Hades, on Mabon, and winter would come to the world. In spring she would once again return to her mother, allowing the earth to bloom. The Blessing of Those Who Weep When Jesus says, “Blessed are you who weep now,” he is not denying the pain of Demeter’s winter or our own. He is naming it as sacred ground. The tears of those who love are holy. The ache we feel for the saints—our family members, our friends who have gone before us—is the measure of the love they left behind. And in God’s mysterious way, that love never dies. It goes down like a seed into the soil, and in time, it grows again—perhaps as peace, perhaps as kindness, perhaps as the courage to love others more deeply. Love That Keeps Returning Every spring in the story, Persephone rises again. Every spring, Demeter’s joy returns. And every time we remember the saints, tell their stories, laugh at their quirks, or carry on their compassion—we are seeing resurrection break through our winter. This is why Jesus calls us to love our enemies, do good, bless those who curse us. Because love—real, generous, risky love—is the only thing that survives the grave. It’s the only thing that can transform mourning into hope. A Word for the Grieving If you are missing someone today, if the world feels colder without them, hear this: Your tears are not weakness—they are seeds. Every act of love, every memory cherished, every kindness done in their name becomes part of God’s great harvest of life. The saints are not gone; they are with God. And God is with you—in the kitchen where you set one less plate, in the quiet moments where memory catches your breath, in the laughter that surprises you when you thought you could only cry. Closing Demeter’s grief turned to spring when her daughter returned. Our hope turns to joy when we remember that in Christ, love never leaves us. The saints we remember today live in the fullness of that love. And someday, when God makes all things new, we too will rise—like seeds breaking through the dark earth into the light. “Blessed are you who weep now,” says Jesus, “for you will laugh.” Amen. (ChatGPT 5) Song Kum Ba Yah (sing twice) UMH 494 Stewardship Moment As followers of Jesus, we claim our intention to learn from him, to claim him as our Lord, as the Christ, as the Master of our lives. If that’s our true identity, one way to demonstrate who we are is to see if our giving reflects what’s most important to us. If you were to check out your giving statement from the church, or the record on your credit card statement, or the graph of how your expenses are divided by category, you would have a visual description of what your dollars declare is important. As we remember “the saints” today, I’m grateful for ________________. (Use someone from your congregation who was a faithful giver or adapt this to fit your situation: “I’m grateful for my own parents who taught us not only with their words, but with their weekly offering checks and their end-of-life proclamations and legacy gifts.”) Today, we celebrate the giving of you saints! Prayer of Thanksgiving Alleluia! We give you praise, God of all life, for these gifts, and for the saints who are gathered to share in this offering. Receive this collection. Call each of us to your life and your service in the coming days, that together we might remember Jesus, and seek to live out his ministry each day of our lives. AMEN. (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Litany of Remembrance and Celebration (Print) Henry Ward Beecher wrote, “What the heart once owned and had, it shall never lose.” Tonight we remember those whom our hearts have owned and had, and whom we know we will never lose. We recall those who have touched our lives in such a way that we will never be the same. We are grateful for the ways in which they have blessed our lives. We lite candles in memory of those who gave us the gift of life. We honor those who gave us birth and nurtured us, those who endowed us with a heritage and raised us. We remember mothers and fathers, grandparents and great-grandparents, and all our ancestors through the ages. We remember also those who were as mother or father to us, loving us by choice rather than chance. We lite candles in memory of those who have linked us into the ongoing chain of family life. We honor those who have shared our heredity and who have experienced our common bonds. We remember sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, relatives near and distant through time. We lite candles in memory of those who have walked beside us in so many ways. We remember those who have worked with us and played with us, who made our time on earth more enjoyable and our experiences in the world more memorable. We remember friends and co-workers and neighbors who lifted us and expanded our horizons. We lite candles in memory of those to whom we ourselves passed on the precious gift of life. We hold dear in our hearts those we have held dear in our arms. We remember children who have gone before us, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We remember those who lived only within the womb, those who lived a very brief time after birth, as well as those who lived on this earth for any number of years. We lite candles for those who have died In disasters, wars and violence of the world. For those who have sacrificed their lives so that we could have ours, For those whom we hold within our hearts. Robert koornneef A Service of Remembrance Invitation to Communion (Do not print words) The invitation is simple: come! Eat here, sharing in this feast. Not a meal to nourish the body, but more than enough to feed the soul. We receive the bread and wine connected to the ages: to the saint of old who felt unworthy, to the seeker eager to know God, to the teenager who wonders what it’s all about, to the child who eats with unburdened faith. Woven into this time, the tears and the hopes of generations. Come! No one will be turned away, for we know God as our Creator, Jesus the Christ as our host and the power of God’s Spirit to gather us in. Come! Remembering John Muir, renowned naturalist, who spoke of “great thousand-year days” experienced when hiking in the Sierras: Today, at this table, we share a thousand-year moment; for here we’re not just with one another in this sanctuary, but we’re surrounded by the “great cloud of witnesses” from Paul and Lydia on to the children among us. Communion. Page 13 THE GREAT THANKSGIVING FOR ALL SAINTS AND MEMORIAL OCCASIONS This text is used by the pastor while the congregation uses A Service of Word and Table II (UMH 13–15) or III (UMH 15–16) or one of the musical settings (UMH 17–25). The pastor stands behind the Lord's table. The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty (almighty God), Creator of heaven and earth: God of Abraham and Sarah, God of Miriam and Moses, God of Joshua and Deborah, God of Ruth and David, God of the priests and the prophets, God of Mary and Joseph, God of the apostles and the martyrs, God of our mothers and our fathers, God of our children to all generations. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn: The pastor may lower hands. Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. The pastor may raise hands. Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread, or touch the bread, or lift the bread. On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the cup, or touch the cup, or lift the cup. When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." The pastor may raise hands. And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith. Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. LORD’S PRAYER The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread and cup. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. The pastor may raise hands. Renew our communion with all your saints, especially those whom we name before you— Name(s) —(in our hearts). Silence may be kept for the remembrance of names. Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, strengthen us to run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father (God), now and for ever. Amen. Copyright: “The Great Thanksgiving for All Saints and Memorial Occasions” Copyright© 1972 The Methodist Publishing House; Copyright © 1980, 1981, 1985 UMPH; Copyright © 1986 Abingdon Press; Copyright © 1987, 1989, 1992 UMPU. Used by permission.” Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook May God grant you grace, that in pain you may find comfort, in sorrow hope, in death resurrection. Amen – From United Methodist Book of Worship, Service of Death and Resurrection, pg. 142 Community Time – Joys and Concerns Benedictions Go into the world as the living body of Christ, bringing eternal life to all who seek God’s face. Amen. (Psalm 24, Revelation 21) Additional Illustrations There is a sound, God, when grief spills from the corner of an eye, and stains the earth with its wetness. It is not a quiet sound, although it may be difficult to hear, and it is not a strange sound; we know its compelling rhythms all too well, because it is, after all, the sound of your voice. You fill every tear with your nail-scarred presence, and breathe into every gasp, your comforting Spirit. And in every broken voice, you call, inviting us to find you in the weeping. Thank you for the grace that shouts in the pain of our world, and that teaches us to listen for life in the sound of tears.

Here and Now. Vs. Bye and Bye

February 16, 2025 Luke 6:17-26 Year C Here and Now Vs. Bye and Bye Fill My Future with Vision Prelude Greeting A Call to Plenty Leader: Being “blessed” is something we too often associate with good luck or privilege or prestige. But in the economy of Jesus, blessedness is quite the opposite. It relies only on active participation in a kin-dom of God in which all are blessed and lifted up to a level playing field, especially those whose identity is demeaned by the powers-that-be. Jesus proclaims a vision of the future in which the jars of plenty never run dry and those who need to dip from plenty the most go to the front of the line. “Abundance” (sing refrain only) See music assets in your downloads God’s abundance is for all, no one is left outside, kin-dom come, all people one in trust and love abide. In this world of striving, we feel the yearn to earn. The world measures our worth in those earnings. But Jesus had different ideas. When they believed the scarcity narratives perpetuated by those in power, he imagined a narrative of selflessness that prized humility over hubris. When we feel our own resources are lacking, we can view our lives and practices again from the economy of Jesus. Let us pray: God of Surprising Paradoxes, we come to you today, lifting to you our feelings of powerlessness against empire and the rage we feel when bad things happen to good people. In the midst of our confounded search for answers, remind us of your justice that restores dignity to those who have been laid low and promises an inheritance of goodness and grace for all people. Amen. Hymn Come We that Love the Lord UMH 732 A Sermon for all Ages Leader: Welcome, children! We are so glad you are here [and for those joining us through the screen, welcome to you, too]. It is week five of talking about the generosity of Jesus and how these BIG jars represent how BIG the heart of Jesus is for each one of us. He wanted everyone to have plenty of everything they need and now it is up to us to keep helping him do that. Let’s remember all the fun we’ve had with our first four piggy banks. First, we did something that GAVE others an affirmation boost, letting them know how important they are to us. And because Jesus fills our own banks with love every day, we have enough to do that any time we want to! Second, we found something from our own toy and clothes that we could share. Especially when we have enough to play with and wear, we can pass along the good vibes! Third, we had fun giving something yummy to people who help others when they need help. I’ll bet this piggy is filled with the memory of their smiles now! And last week, we asked people to help us buy something meaningful with their coins and dollars. And we continued to collect this week [empty out the coins/dollars from the piggy]. We have MORE than enough to buy a flock of chicks! And now, what we have left in the piggy is a warm feeling that we were able to offer something really amazing. So… this week we are talking about how Jesus gave people a “vision” of what a fair world would look like. Let’s see what this little piggy has in store for us! But first, here is a note! “Dear children. You are really getting the idea that we don’t keep things locked up all the time just filling our banks with more and more and more. We look at what we already have, and the fun is in figuring out how to give it away! Affirmations, toys, clothes, snacks, and chickens – thank you for giving all that away! This week, I need your help blessing and filling those who are hungry. So take out what’s inside of my piggy bank and let’s see what we can do together. Always yours, Jesus.” OK… let’s see what is in here [take out a note]. This is what it says, “Take the leftover dollars you have collected after paying for the chickens and go with this little piggy ‘to the market’ and buy some canned goods for the food bank.” Hmmm…. to the market… oh, look! I see some shelves with canned goods and a cash register [create a little “store” out of a bookshelf and have a person with a box that looks like a cash register]. Ok… we need $20 for the chickens and this is what we have leftover [make sure you have at least a dollar bill “left over” for every child]. When we have plenty, Jesus encourages us to use what we have to bring about his vision for the future–a world where everyone has enough to eat. We have a food bank here in town [adapt this language for your context] where people can get food if they don’t have enough money to pay for food. So let’s go to the market and buy cans of food with the leftover money we collected so we can take this food to the food bank! Here we go with this little piggy to the market! [go and do the transactions and put the cans of food into a bag to be delivered] Thank you so much for using that money to give away more goodness! You are the vision of the future for all of us! Let’s pray a repeat-after-me prayer, and then we’ll go [instructions per usual for your church]. Dear Jesus… [children repeat, etc.] thank you for showing us… how to to share… thank you for showing us… how to to care… help us to know… that there is no doubt… the gifts that you give us… can never run out… there’s so much in store… that we’ll give it away… making sure there’s enough… for ALL every day… Amen… Responsive Reading Psalm 1 UMH 738 The Peace Leader: Just as our worth as humans is not dependent on the bottom line of our bank accounts, our relationships are not dependent upon the earning of favors and the limitations of “quid pro quo.” The peace of Christ has no limits, and we get more just by giving it. So may jar-fulls of peace be with you today. People: And also with you. Leader: You are invited to pass the “plethora of peace” among you, remembering to pass it to those joining us remotely. Scripture Luke 6:17-26 Sermon The Here and Now Vs. The Bye and Bye So yesterday I had a pretty full day. It started at 7 in the morning with getting up for the sharefest meeting, and it was after 10 when I sat down to prepare my sermon. By then of course I am tired, so I am tempted to just cheat. I know that I have preached on this scripture before. As a matter of fact, I know that I have preached on this sermon here before. In 2019 – we covered this story. As a read through the old sermon – it became clear that it was not going to work – It was based on the wrong question. In 2019 I talked about being happy, the question was are you happy. Today, I have a whole different question, for a whole different reason. Today the question is – are you rich? That is a trick question. When we think of being rich, we think about how much money we have. But in reality, being rich has nothing to do with money. Being rich is a mindset. There are millionaires who still struggle to pay the bills, and there are poor families who struggle to put food on the table, who always have enough to share with others. Being rich has nothing to do with money, and yet for Jesus, especially in the book of Luke being rich has everything to do with money. In Luke 6 when Jesus says blessed are the poor – all of us here today are convinced that Jesus is talking about us. The bible in general, makes a distinction between the haves and the have nots. And it would be fair to say that throughtout the bible, God in on the side of the poor. All throughout biblical history the bible has prophets who speak out about some people getting rich on the backs of others. The prophets warn that those people have an obligation to improve the life of the rest of the people. So when Jesus says blessed are the poor, the hungry, those who suffer – he is not saying anything new and different and strange. As a matter of fact, when Jesus was a baby, it was his mother Mary who used to sing to him a lullaby – that God was turning everything upside down. Every body who were rich, going to lose what they had. Those who were in power would be pulled down, the haves, were going to become the have nots. Even as a woman with no power to change anything – it was his mother Mary who stood up and declared that the spirit was with her, and that she would do her part in turning the world around. When she became pregnant with Jesus – she vowed that this baby would be a part of the revolution – he would be a part in turning everything around. – and he did just that. He lived his life, he taught others, he went to the cross of the system in order to change the system. He makes it his mission to speak out about the system. Not only does he speak out – but he sets out to improve the lives of those who are in need. He doesn’t just talk about it, he feeds, he teaches, he speaks out, he provides, he even heals. We are all familiar with the sermon on the mount – where Jesus says blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who are hungry for justice, blessed are those who mourn for lost loved ones. He speaks about what it means to be happy. What it takes for us to live a happy life, and he tells us that happiness is achievable no matter what our situation is. The problem for us today – is that the sermon on the mount is in the book of Matthew. And we are reading the book of Luke. Luke has a whole different understanding of life. For Luke he doesn’t give a sermon on the mount – Jesus gives a sermon on the plain. Instead of rising above people, he comes down to their level. Matthew speaks just of blessings. Luke speaks about blessings and woes. There are people who are blessed, and there are people who are not. There are people who will be happy when the system is turned on its head, and there are people who need to beware. For Luke, how much money does matter. And how much money you have does make a difference. And unfortunately, all of us here are far above the income level to the people that Jesus was talking to. All of us, have a way to meet our basic needs. Our lifestyle is above the subsistence level. In Jesus eyes, all of us would be considered rich. We all fall into the have category. So when we hear these blessings and woes – we are supposed to become uncomfortable and squirm in our seats – Jesus is talking to us. We need to take this scripture seriously. Jesus is reminding us, that no matter how poor we think we are – there is someone else who is worse off then you. And he encourages us to reach out and to be willing to help that person along. Africa 1994 Around the time of the 1994 elections in South Africa, a friend was doing some academic research in that country. As you may remember, it was a difficult time in that nation. The country of South Africa was struggling to create a free society for people of different races. One Sunday night, my friend drove into Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa. He describes it as an impressive city of steel and glass, with imposing government centers and modern universities. As he drove into the downtown area, he was stunned to see a small congregation of black Christians worshiping inside the green circle of an expressway ramp. He said: The contrast could not have been more stark. Here against the skyline of the great governmental city of Pretoria, strong symbol for many of the bitter years of apartheid, was a tiny group of those who had been denied standing in the society. Here, in the shadow of the capital of a nation built on gold and diamonds and ivory, was a poor band of Christians with no building, no pews, no paid clergy, no musical instruments save tambourines ... Pretoria stood majestically, the embodiment of the present power. The little flock danced and sang and praised the God of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. William G. Carter, Praying for a Whole New World, CSS Publishing Company, ___________________________ A lot of times when we do reach out to help – we hold onto that boundary of having, and identify with when as doing them a favor. We still stay a step above, and forget to treat them as a fellow sister or brother. When Jesus fed the hungry – he had no place to lay his head. He was homeless, but he made it it mission to help others. Perhaps that is why it is the sermon on the plain – he came top earth to be on the level of the people he was trying to help. Sermon Opener - Christian Liberty - Luke 6:17-26 Jesus died penniless. Roman soldiers cast lots to divide among themselves Jesus' only possessions--the clothes on his back. And he looked at his disciples and said, blessed are you who are poor. Jesus died hungry. There is no record that Jesus had anything to eat the day of his death. What we call The Last Supper on Thursday evening may very well have been Jesus' last meal. He died on the cross Friday at sunset with an empty stomach. Looking at his disciples he said, blessed are you who hunger now. Jesus died weeping. After his last supper Jesus headed for the Garden and there in that Olive Grove we call Gethsemane he prayed and he wept. He told his disciples you are blessed when you weep. Jesus died hated. Caiaphas, the greatest religious authority in Israel called him a blasphemer. The crowds wanted a murderer freed before they would see Jesus pardoned. And his disciples deserted him. Looking at his disciples he said blessed are you when men hate you on account of me. The beatitudes are a wonderful description of what disciples are suppose to be like. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are you who are poor. They sound so ideal, so spiritual. They probably come in fourth in the “framed scripture hanging on a wall category.” Just behind The Ten Commandments, Psalm 23, and the Lord’s Prayer. But truth be told few of us ever come close to truly living them out. Why? Here’s the reason: It’s because they are a call to sacrificial living. When I think of making sacrifices I think of E. Stanley Jones, perhaps United Methodism’s most famous foreign missionary. He authored over a dozen books and converted hundreds of Hindus in India to Christianity. He is the only person of which I am aware who was voted in abstentia to become a bishop. When he received the news, he turned it down. One day E. Stanley Jones came to Emory University and spoke to a Systematic Theology class. One of the students asked him why he turned down the episcopacy. He laughingly replied that if he became a bishop he would have to retire at age 70. "I am now 82," he said, "and I am still going strong." Then someone asked him: what do you think of the Beatitudes? Several students picked up their pens expecting something profound and they got it. Here's what he said: "At first sight, you felt they turned everything upside down. At second sight, you understand that they turn everything right side up. The first time you read them they are impossible. The second time you read them, nothing else is possible. The beatitudes are not a chart for Christian duty. They are a charter for Christian liberty.” The sermon on the plain teaches us how to live, what to do with our money. It teaches us what it truly means to be rich. Are you rich? Being rich is still about where our spirit us, not how much money we have in the bank account. What Will It Take to Make You Happy? - Luke 6:17-26 “Who do you think is happier?” asks Marc Reklau in his book Destination Happiness, “people who [have] won the lottery or people who [have become] paralyzed after an accident?” You may be surprised at the answer. “Yes, the lottery winners were very happy, but not for very long,” Reklau continues. “After six months they went back to their previous levels of happiness.” On the other hand, “the accident victims were sad, but surprisingly after six months, they [also] went back to their previous levels of happiness.” Think about that for a moment. Six months later both groups--those who had won the lottery and those who had an accident and were paralyzed--had returned to their previous state of happiness. I don’t know what that says to you, but it says to me that happiness is an inside job. Our circumstances don’t determine how satisfied we are with our lives. Something else--on the inside--makes the difference. The same studies on happiness were conducted with a group of college professors. They were asked how happy they would be if they got tenure. For a college professor tenure means that they are given a permanent post from which they can be removed only under extraordinary circumstances. These professors answered that, if they got tenure, they would be very happy . . . for the rest of their lives. Another group of professors was asked how unhappy they would be if they did not get tenure. They answered, “Very unhappy for a very long time.” And again, when researchers went back to them six months later, every one of these professors had gone back to their previous level of well-being whether they received tenure or not. “If they were happy before, they were happy six months later . . . if they were unhappy before, they were unhappy six months later.” (1) Interesting. You and I count as part of our heritage the blessings of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But what is happiness? Is happiness something that can be obtained by pursuing it? Is it a product of circumstance or surroundings? Is it to be equated with money in the bank, a diploma on the wall, the respect of one’s friends and neighbors? Or does it depend on something else, something entirely different? Think for a moment: What would it take to make you happy--really happy? Jesus talked about happiness, but not in the same way you or I would talk about it…. Which of these words describe your spirit right now – Poor, hungry, weeping, hated, excluded, reviled, defamed. Or rich, full, laughing, well thought of. In God’s eyes, all of us our considered rich. In Jesus eyes, anyone who didn’t have to beg for food everyday was pretty well off. But what does that mean for us? It means that we have a choice about what to do with our richness. Everyday – do we choose to get closer to God, or farther away. Do we choose to be a part of Jesus mission or ignore it? Do we live with the beatitudes in mind or not? Are we happy with the way the world is, or do we hunger for a better world? It is a blessing to know we are spiritual beggars – we pray for more. It is a blessing to hunger for more spiritual knowledge, it is a blessing to weep when we see that things are not going right, it is a blessing to suffer persecution on behalf of Jesus. May God fill our clay jar – with a vision for a future where all may live in God’s abundance. Lets pray….. Song Jesus Calls Us UMH 308 Prayers of the People Leader: In the economy of Jesus, up is down and down is up. The last shall be first, and the first shall be last. We live out Jesus’ example by putting others before ourselves. Together, we work to dismantle the structures of inequality that create injustice in our world Leader: Each week of this series we will be focusing on naming gifts of abundance we have received in the week, instances where we have seen the abundance of Christ at work in the world, and we will ask for the wisdom and strength to change so that abundance is more available to all. In this pause, O God, we ponder the many gifts you have given us. Our gratitude seems never enough for the plenty you provide. We call to mind the gifts of creation, of relationships, of sustenance. [pause] In this pause, Christ Jesus, we ponder the ways your love is still at work in the world. Our awe and wonder at the goodness of others is profound. We call to mind acts of kindness, generosity, and selflessness. [pause] In this pause, Holy Spirit, we come asking you for strength. The temptation to live by the economics of not-enough is so strong in us. We ask for revelation in our thinking and doing, so that we might live with clear vision in the house. [pause] Loving God, Christ Jesus, Holy Spirit, we are yours. We bring to you now the concerns of our day, of our communities, knowing that already you are present, already you are working to bring about comfort and healing. Today we pray for…. Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment Long ago, people of faith were invited to share their “first fruits” as an offering of praise and thanksgiving to God. Growing up, did you live in a home where the first portion of each paycheck was designated as your family’s offering? Did you have an allowance, out of which you took a portion to share in Sunday School? Whether that’s part of your background or not, some of us continue to make our regular gift to the church as the first of all that is paid. It may be as a bank draft, responding to the QR code, or giving on-line. A few of us still give with a check, or actually bring cash to put in the offering tray. When we make a conscious decision to share some of our finances, in whatever form, we’re creating a habit of giving. Together we provide our gifts. When we give proportionately and regularly, our giving becomes a significant way to identify ourselves as people of faith. How we spend our income shows what’s vital to us. Is your offering — and is mine — as thoughtful as the money we spend for the cars we drive, the homes in which we live, the phones we carry, the beer we drink or the restaurants where we’re known by name? Paul’s question might be: what are your first fruits? And where do you offer them? With joy, let us bring our offerings, clearly indicating the priority we give to Jesus and his church. Prayer of Thanksgiving With gratitude, God, we offer these gifts. You pour out blessing upon blessing for us. Now we return a portion of what you’ve first given us. Accept this offering, and help us use these funds to further build up your Realm on earth. AMEN Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook The jars are full in the Kin-dom of God. A future with Christ is full of the vision we need and the vision we are called to proclaim. We are transformed in the economy of Jesus, bearing the witness of dividends of grace. We have heard the call to invest our interest in the transformation of our communities. And so we go, doing likewise in the world, with the help of God, the guidance of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Now and forever. Amen. Community Time – Joys and Concerns Benediction Beloved, go today in the blessing of Christ, who calls you, equips you, and accompanies you as you live out God’s justice and joy wherever you go! Amen. Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, August 2024. Postlude What Will It Take to Make You Happy? - Luke 6:17-26 “Who do you think is happier?” asks Marc Reklau in his book Destination Happiness, “people who [have] won the lottery or people who [have become] paralyzed after an accident?” You may be surprised at the answer. “Yes, the lottery winners were very happy, but not for very long,” Reklau continues. “After six months they went back to their previous levels of happiness.” On the other hand, “the accident victims were sad, but surprisingly after six months, they [also] went back to their previous levels of happiness.” Think about that for a moment. Six months later both groups--those who had won the lottery and those who had an accident and were paralyzed--had returned to their previous state of happiness. I don’t know what that says to you, but it says to me that happiness is an inside job. Our circumstances don’t determine how satisfied we are with our lives. Something else--on the inside--makes the difference. The same studies on happiness were conducted with a group of college professors. They were asked how happy they would be if they got tenure. For a college professor tenure means that they are given a permanent post from which they can be removed only under extraordinary circumstances. These professors answered that, if they got tenure, they would be very happy . . . for the rest of their lives. Another group of professors was asked how unhappy they would be if they did not get tenure. They answered, “Very unhappy for a very long time.” And again, when researchers went back to them six months later, every one of these professors had gone back to their previous level of well-being whether they received tenure or not. “If they were happy before, they were happy six months later . . . if they were unhappy before, they were unhappy six months later.” (1) Interesting. You and I count as part of our heritage the blessings of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But what is happiness? Is happiness something that can be obtained by pursuing it? Is it a product of circumstance or surroundings? Is it to be equated with money in the bank, a diploma on the wall, the respect of one’s friends and neighbors? Or does it depend on something else, something entirely different? Think for a moment: What would it take to make you happy--really happy? Jesus talked about happiness, but not in the same way you or I would talk about it…. Sermon Opener - Christian Liberty - Luke 6:17-26 Jesus died penniless. Roman soldiers cast lots to divide among themselves Jesus' only possessions--the clothes on his back. And he looked at his disciples and said, blessed are you who are poor. Jesus died hungry. There is no record that Jesus had anything to eat the day of his death. What we call The Last Supper on Thursday evening may very well have been Jesus' last meal. He died on the cross Friday at sunset with an empty stomach. Looking at his disciples he said, blessed are you who hunger now. Jesus died weeping. After his last supper Jesus headed for the Garden and there in that Olive Grove we call Gethsemane he prayed and he wept. He told his disciples you are blessed when you weep. Jesus died hated. Caiaphas, the greatest religious authority in Israel called him a blasphemer. The crowds wanted a murderer freed before they would see Jesus pardoned. And his disciples deserted him. Looking at his disciples he said blessed are you when men hate you on account of me. The beatitudes are a wonderful description of what disciples are suppose to be like. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are you who are poor. They sound so ideal, so spiritual. They probably come in fourth in the “framed scripture hanging on a wall category.” Just behind The Ten Commandments, Psalm 23, and the Lord’s Prayer. But truth be told few of us ever come close to truly living them out. Why? Here’s the reason: It’s because they are a call to sacrificial living. When I think of making sacrifices I think of E. Stanley Jones, perhaps United Methodism’s most famous foreign missionary. He authored over a dozen books and converted hundreds of Hindus in India to Christianity. He is the only person of which I am aware who was voted in abstentia to become a bishop. When he received the news, he turned it down. One day E. Stanley Jones came to Emory University and spoke to a Systematic Theology class. One of the students asked him why he turned down the episcopacy. He laughingly replied that if he became a bishop he would have to retire at age 70. "I am now 82," he said, "and I am still going strong." Then someone asked him: what do you think of the Beatitudes? Several students picked up their pens expecting something profound and they got it. Here's what he said: "At first sight, you felt they turned everything upside down. At second sight, you understand that they turn everything right side up. The first time you read them they are impossible. The second time you read them, nothing else is possible. The beatitudes are not a chart for Christian duty. They are a charter for Christian liberty.” The Beatitudes: They are admonitions to sacrificial living and sacrificial living is the door to Christian Freedom. Now what does that mean? Let’s take a look. 1. A Good Word for Poverty 2. Caution against Riches 3. Sacrificial Freedom Is Greater than Financial Freedom _________________________________ Peoples attitudes Toward God's Messengers (Prophets) C. H. Spurgeon used to preach only once each year "for his orphans." At that great meeting many would come to hear the famous preacher, and an offering would be received for his orphanage. After one of these meetings he is reputed to have been leaving the building where the service had taken place when one of those "super spiritual," narrow-minded, nitpicking individuals accosted him with the charge, "Why, Mr. Spurgeon, I thought you preached for souls and not for money!" The story relates that Spurgeon gravely replied, Why, Mr. So-and-So. Normally I do preach for souls and not for money. But my orphans can't eat souls and if they did, my brother, it would take at least four the size of yours to give one of them a square meal!" Craig Skinner in The Minister's Manuel, 1995 p. 346.