THANKSGIVING SERMON 11.20.16

                            THANKSGIVING SERMON    11.20.16

Our Gospel tells the  story of the story of 10 people who had lepersey—all who were miraculously healed by Jesus.  While this was perhaps one of the greatest healing miracles of his ministry, but it was an event lost to most. It came and went like a Thanksgiving turkey supper, because most of those healed never returned to thank Jesus.

Now, why is that?  Why wouldn’t they return to thank Him?  Well, this is not scriptural—but I have some ideas on my own.

1.    The first man did not return to thank Jesus, because he didn’t think he would fit in with the disciple crowd.  He saw them as  too unconventional and pushy about their faith. So, he kept away from them.

2.    The 2nd healed man was afraid that Jesus and his associates would ask for money in return for his healing; so he sneaked away without anyone seeing him.

3.    The 3^rd person was afraid that his friends might see him hanging around the Jesus crowd, and he was afraid that his friends would ridicule him for being a Jesus freak.  He did not want to draw attention to himself.

4.    The 4^th person was mad that Jesus had only healed him, and not the world. “Bet you won’t heal my sister!”she yelled at Jesus.

5.    The 5^th man was mad that Jesus healed him.  He had made all his income by begging.  He liked living off of charity.  Now everyone knew he was healed. He was going to have to go out and get a real job for the first time in his adult life.

6.    The 6^th woman believed that Jesus had not healed her; rather , she claimed that she had healed herself with lots of sunshine, exercise, good organic food; and dietary supplements.  Therefore, Jesus deserved none of the credit.

7.    The 7^th person wanted to go watch a football game, because all the big games were coming up, and he didn’t want to miss any of them.

8.    The 8^th person didn’t return to give Jesus thanks, because he was too busy with his job, his family, his finances, and other pressures.  Instead of thanking Jesus, he decided to take a nap.

9.    The 9^th person was so happy, that he went to see Jesus, but stopped at a bar on his way. After a couple drinks with his friends, he forgot all about Jesus.

Now, none of this is scriptural—but I will tell you what is: What is scriptural is Jesus’ grave disappointment in not being thanked.  Have you ever noticed the large # of pictures of Jesus—where he is not smiling?  He’s always got a serious of melancholy look on his face.  Why does he look so sad?  Because most people do not really thank him for all that he gives to us.  Who knows—Jesus could have performed any more miracles in the past, or even in our time, but if no one gives Jesus the credit, it is as if they had not occurred.  Oh, some people may feel some since of gratitude in their  heart—but gratitude not expressed doesn’t do any good.

Thanks givng which touches the heart of God is expressed in public—like the 10^th person in today’s Gospel.  This man was a Samaritan, half breed, whom had faced hundreds of years of racism at the hands of the Jews. He wasn’t supposed to even be seen in the company of Jews, like Jesus.  But that man shouted out his gratitude in a loud voice. He wanted one and all to know that He was grateful to Jesus.  And Jesus, on his part, was greatly moved.

Too many Christians take Jesus for granted. We receive and receive, but most of the time...9 out of ten times, we do not express our gratitude in front of someone or in public. But when we do make an intentional –visible expression of our gratitude—Jesus is touched.  Jesus smiles, And Jesus multiples and expands the blessings that He gives us…because He wants others to know just how generous He can be for them.

Grateful Christians are also known as disciples—who express their gratitude by taking a stand for Jesus in public. So, if we were to describe what grateful disciples look like, who like the 10^th man who was healed, what might that look like.

1.    Public gratitude might look like John Carson. John arrives before anyone at church on Sundays to plug in the coffee pot. By the time I arrive before the 8 am service, the heat is on, the lights are one, and John greets me with a “Good morning.  Jesus loves you . I know because Jesus loves me.”

2.    Karendale Waskiewitz is a smiling greeter for our Grades PreK -3 Sunday School Class on Sunday mornings. She welcomes them, gives them a hug, and gives them an original picture for coloring—one that she has drawn herself.

3.    Between the 8:00 & 10:00 am service, there is another group that thanks God through song. As I am sitting in my office preparing for the 10am service, I hear the choir rehearse with such commitment and faith, which is so touching.  They rehearse prior to each Sunday service, thanking God in song and smiles, as you come through the door.

4.    You can see other grateful people in the altar guild, the ushers, the acolytes, the readers, the Vergers,  Greeters, and the Ministers of Communion.  Instead of sitting , they are so grateful that they serve in the  service.

5.    Other grateful people demonstrate their gratitude by just showing up. I agree with Woody Allen that 90% of life is just showing up for worship and to receive communion.  This is especially true of our children, who receive  communion with such eager expectation.  On the night Jesus died, Jesus invited us to receive the bread and wine as the sacrament of his presence, and in gratitude for his life, death, and resurrection. By demonstrating your faith in this way, He is touched.

Today, we are going to offer another opportunity for each of us to publicly express our gratitude to Jesus, by making an offering of our 2017 pledge cards at the altar.  Each year, as we do this—heaven takes notice, because these pledge cards are an outward and tangible expression that we are grateful for what Jesus has given us, and we are grateful for what he will give us in the future.

CHURCH KITS--PARTIAL ASSEMBLY REQUIRED

This morning’s sermon is called: Church Kits—partial assembly required.

 

Let us pretend  that we are not the people of Christ Church. Rather, we are a group of people, living in a different place who have no church---and we would like to start one.  So, we have called the diocese, and the diocese and their representative tells us that he has 2 different church kits to choose from:

 

The first is the “fancy church kit.”  This kit is full to the brim with all sorts of things.

·       We need lots and lots of $, because fancy churches cannot live without a river of cash, so that they can keep their churches fancy.

·       For that, you need lots and lots of people.

·       You need fancy worship, with expensive vestments, gold & silver communion ware

·       [An expensive CEO Bishop to watch over you]

·       [Lots of state of the arts electronics, so that everyone can hear & see your dazzling worship.]

·       A very complex music program, with a new state of the art pipe organ, and a paid choir of 20-30 people

·       And to house all this, you need a huge multimillion dollar stone church, with a state of the art water system, newly renovated on the inside and out.

 

So, we could choose expensive fancy church kit, or we can choose the Free church kit?  Now, this box is mostly empty.  But there are a few items in here:

·       Rock—Jesus is the rock of our salvation, and He  is the rock upon which his church, his people, are assembled.  You see, back in the days of the early church, as described in today’s readings—the church did not refer to the building.  The term church, translated from the original Greek, means “assembly.”  So, during the time when the Christian church was the most powerful, the first 3 centuries AD, there were not church buildings.  Those came later.  But the church, the people, were built on the rock---Jesus Christ, the church’s true foundation.

·       Next, the Holy Spirit—the Holy Spirit is the power of God in our day and time, which focuses in building up people to their ability to know, love, and serve God.  Too many modern churches are so obsessed with their fanciness, that they neglect the Holy Spirit.  A church without the Holy Spirit is a dead church, trying to cling to its fanciness, yet neglecting Jesus the rock and the Holy Spirit.

·       Next, of course, is the Word of God—which is God’s means of communicating to us in our day and time.

·       And finally, a sense of communion community.  Many Christian churches offer the sacrament of communion; but they lack the inclusive and warm sense of community.  The early church, as described in today’s readings, met in homes with small groups, where people gathered for bible study, friendship & prayer.  They met over dinner, and shared the communion bread and wine as part of their meal.  Consequently, they were all personal friends---but with an extra seat at the table for visitors and guests. 

 

This is the church described in our church history reading today—a church where the people were known for their love of God and one another.

 

You see, the life-beating-heart of the local church  is and always has been found in  relationships.  We are talking about real relationships where we are personally known, loved, and appreciated.

 

Now, those type of relationships are not possible in a crowd of 50 or more during Sunday worship:  Too many people; and the focus is primarily worship, not friendship.  So, Jesus modeled the right size of group where such friendships are possible—and he chose 12 or smaller. He also said that whenever 2 or 3 people gather together in His Name, that he will be present to them in a unique & wonderful way, that is different from the way he is present to a group of 2 dozen or more.

 

This is what happens in small groups.

 

Why is this important to all of us? There is an earthquake going on in church life in our country—and several things are happening.

·       One, churches without small groups are declining and dying. Large churches with small groups are growing, but large churches with small groups are declining and dying.

·       Small & medium size churches, which aspire to be fancy churches, are declining and dying, if they do not have small groups.

 

You see, institutionalized religion is no longer as popular as it once was. In the US, we have 90% of people who believe in God, and 45% who claim to be connected to a church.

·       So, religion is less important to folks; but relationships -relationships with Christ and one another—such relationships  are what many people need and want.

·       That is why CCQF has had so much success with our Small group program over the past 4 years.  Last year, 60 adults participated in our fall Small Group program; this year, 50 have signed up already; and that is about half of our yearly average  Sunday attendance. 

·       This percentage is almost unheard of. Many churches are happy if 20 or 30 % participate, but very few have 50 % or more.  Whether or not you personally choose to participate in small groups, that is one ministry which keeps our church firmly built on the rock of Jesus Christ.

 

So, please consider whether or not this vital program is for you. It could add fire to your faith and relationships, as it has for others: Would you please take out the Small group flier in your bulletin—open it up, looking at the far right section.  There are some testimonials that I would like to share with you:

 

WHAT DO I APPRECIATE ABOUT SMALL GROUPS?

·       Michelle Macisco writes, “…the sharing and the felling comfortable enough to share myself.”

·       Marilyn Stebar appreciates the seeing newcomers to our group feel accepted & welcomed; and seeing everybody praying out loud.”

·       And finally, Mr. anonymous says, “I think that this Small group has been marvelous.  I am so glad that I came.”

 

Meanwhile, let’s get back to the church kits.  Which one should we choose?  Well, ever since the Protestant reformation in the 16^th century –the Anglican Episcopal Church has offered us the opportunity of using all the riches of the free church kit, and the best of the riches of the fancy church kit.

·       You see, as long as Jesus is the foundation of our church---then we can use wonderful music, colorful vestments, and even bishops to bring glory to God and to inspire us. 

·       We believe that standing on the rock of Jesus, the riches of our Anglican tradition bring beauty, reverence, mystery, and richness to our worship, as we follow God’s command to give Him thanks and praise.

  

Thanks be to God. Amen. Alleluia!!!

Episcopalains Together In Oxford (ETO) Our Kids in Kenya

Episcopalains Together In Oxford (ETO)

Our Kids In Kenya

The Rev. Ellen Donnelly

From today’s Gospel: “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…..Whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me.”

We understand that faith isn’t about what we think or feel; it’s about what we do, how we live our daily lives as disciples of Jesus Christ.  This passage from Matthew reminds us that it’s also about how we treat those in need; we need to look at them not as a problem but as an opportunity, an opportunity to minister to Jesus himself.  The problem, of course, is that there is so much need all around us that it can be too overwhelming to do anything at all.

That’s why I rely on God-incidence, the believer’s version of coincidence.  If we have our eyes open, we can so often see that God is opening doors for us, while maybe closing others.  And that is how I try to identify which people in need to help – the ones God is giving me eyes to see.  From that point of view, I’d like to share a little with you today about my experience over the years with a small orphanage in a little town in Kenya.

The story starts in 2002, when a new family joined our church in New Jersey – mom, dad, and 5 kids.  They had come to the United States from Kenya to provide better educational opportunities for their children, and the dad was an priest from the Anglican Church of

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Kenya, none other than Brother David Esipila, whom many of you know.  It so happened that at that time I was working with the Missions Committee of our church to identify new outreach opportunities that the whole church could get involved in, and I invited Brother David to join us.

That’s when we learned about the huge number of orphans left by the AIDS epidemic all over Africa in the 90s.  We also learned from David about a small orphanage in his home town that he had helped to found.  It had fallen on hard times when the American church that had been supporting it bailed out.  Our hearts were touched by the plight of this particular group of people in need.  A God-incidence, do you think?  And so the outreach ministry we called Our Kids in Kenya was born in 2003.

At that point there were 25 children in the orphanage, ranging in age from infants to high schoolers.  For many, it was the only family they had ever known.  The orphanage provided not only food and shelter but medical care, Christian fellowship, and education at the local schools.  The latter was of great importance because at that time, as is still mostly true today, public schools were not free; in Kenya, as here at home, education is the key to a better life.  And in all this, Brother David was our direct contact with the orphanage.  Without his help, we would never have been able to navigate the complex culture and customs of Africa.

I’m happy to say that our St. Michael’s family adopted Our Kids in Kenya enthusiastically.  Our kids made cards in Sunday School to send to the orphans.  Families “adopted” an orphan and provided monthly support.  We held fund-raisers and collected school supplies, clothing, and other necessities.  We had a monthly prayer service in which each

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child was prayed for by name and according to their needs.  They were truly OUR Kids in Kenya.

In 2009, recognizing the limits of our resources, we made a decision not to accept any more children into the orphanage, but to support the 22 current children until they graduated from high school.  After Fr. John and I left St. Michael’s in 2011, the OKIK Committee carried on as best they could, but in 2015, the new Rector decided to drop support for the orphanage.

Fr. John and I were appalled; once again an American church had abandoned the orphanage.   But, once more, God opened a new door.  Our Episcopalians Together in Oxford (ETO) Outreach Committee was at that time looking for outreach projects that our 2 churches could do together.  By the way, your representatives on that Committee are Bob Knapp, Michelle Masisco, and Fr. John.  All of us were moved by the plight of the few remaining orphans, who had had the rug pulled out from under them.  We felt that it was a God-incidence that this opportunity was presented to us, and we agreed that we would do our best to finish out the promise that St. Michael’s had made years before, to support the remaining kids until they graduated from college.

In my experience, God-incidences always work out if you see them and seize them.  By the grace of God, we have been able to raise so far this year over $7000, which has provided support for the orphanage from March through September, with a little left over.  Today, there are only 6 remaining kids out of the original 22.  Four of them are seniors in high school who will be graduating in December of this year and moving out of the orphanage to begin their lives.  We are so proud of these 4, most of whom have lived in the orphanage all their lives. 

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In January, we will close the orphanage building (which is rented); the remaining 2 kids will board with a woman Brother David knows.  We will continue, by God’s grace, to provide support for them until they, too graduate – 2 years for 1, 4 years for the other.

So now we are in a position of needing to raise enough money to see us through December.  That is the reason for our fund-raising Steak Dinner, which is described on the flyer in your hands.  I hope many of you will take the opportunity to join in supporting Our Kids in Kenya by buying tickets to the dinner – and, of course, enjoy and delicious meal and Christian fellowship into the bargain.  Why not invite a friend or relative as well – every dollar counts as we try to make good on our commitment to Our Kids in Kenya.

May God bless you for your generosity.  And remember that “whatever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters, you do for Me.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sermon preached @

Christ Church Quaker Farms on Sept.4, 2016

& St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, September 11, 2016

GOSPEL OF JOHN--"I AM THE VINE, YOU ARE THER BRANCHES"

If someone was to ask you, who are you, how would you reply?

 

Pardon me, but would you  please tell me  who are you?

 

Now if that person was to ask you not only your name, but to ask you to tell one other fact about your identity, how would you reply?

 

So, you have revealed some initial info on your identity, and if you were willing, you  could tell us  all about you.  We could talk about our identities as family mbrs, as workers and/or professionals,  as sports fans,  as voters, and  etc.  But that, would only be a part of your identity.  That part will only last 70 to 90 plus years or so.

 

Now there is another part of your identity , which you may have  left out, which was described in our Gospel reading.  If you call yourself a Christian, then your true and eternal identity is that you are a branch of the vine--- the vine being Jesus Christ. And actually, every single person, whether they are Christian or not, is also a branch of that very same vine—though they may not recognize that truth.

 

You see, God made all people not to be separated from Him, but to be a  part of Him.  Being connected to the vine is crucial for both a full and abundant life now, and in the age to come.

 

[Today we conclude our sermon series on the Gospels by dipping into the Gospel of St. John.  John was Jesus’ closest  personal friend. He stood by Him at the cross, when the other disciples fled. Out of that experience of friendship, John has written the  most magnificent of the Gospels.  There are so many rich avenues that we could explore, but today we look at the relationship between God & humanity from God’s eyes]

 

If you would be look at your sermon insert, Jesus is saying that some branches, like some people, bear a lot of fruit in their lives—like the top branch on the graph.  Fruitful branches on a grape vine bear healthy fruit, because the branches are connected to the vine.  Likewise, we bear healthy fruit in our lives when we make all effort to stay connected to Jesus, the vine.  His life giving sap , the Holy Spirit, flows through us producing the fruit of the spirit, described in our first reading today: forgiveness, reconciliation, acceptance, warmth, joy & the like.

Now some of us are naturally kind and accepting...but God’s goal for us is that through nurturing our connection with Him, that we would grow in all of the fruit of the spirit. Indeed, as I have grown in my relationship with God, so I have been better able to forgive people, and to defer to others as an act of love; and I am sure that many of you can see this in your lives, too, because many of you are strongly connected to the Vine of Jesus Christ.  PAUSE

 

However, what happens if a person does not nurture  an active spiritual life?

·      Then that branch, over the course of time, will bear less and less fruit.

·      Likewise, with people who are only tangentially connected with God, or who , indeed, cut themselves off from God and His people—something dies within.

·       In order for our emotional hearts to fully function, we must nurture and cultivate our spiritual lives; otherwise, something dies with in, wounding that heart...or maybe even killing it. 

·       How many people do you know are relationally impaired in their families, homes, or place of employment?  Perhaps the reason is that they have cut themselves off from the vine?

 

Now, how does this apply to us?

1.   One, obviously , is that Jesus wants us to understand the vital importance of being connected to Him and with each other.  Coming to worship is great; but relationships need to be developed at Coffee hour or in Small groups, or in other settings. 

2.   Next,  I realize that it is summer, and many folks of our congregation travel; but at least some of us know of church friends who have drifted away, and we have not seen them recently.

·      Studies confirm that if a person drifts away from church friends and friends, then those friends need to reach out to him or her—to let them know that they are missed and that they are wanted.

·      This is not something that the newsletter or even the rector can do; but think of it: you can be the instrument of someone reconnecting with the Vine of Jesus  Christ. Just give him or her a phone call and reach out.

3.   Thirdly, of course, we can decide to be a new friend for someone new who walks through our front door.  Again, statistics show that most visitors, looking for a new church, like ours, are primarily interested in making new friendships.  Likewise, if a newcomer does not make one new friendship within the first 2 months at a new church, they will most likely drift away.

 

What I am describing, I believe, is way that Jesus wants us to be the Church.

·      It’s not about the money.

·       It’s not even about the attendance.

·       It’s not about the music, or the pastor, or any of the programs.

·      It is about one Christian connecting and/or reconnecting  with Jesus, the vine. In turn, that person helps someone else,  broken away from the vine, to connect or reconnect with the life giving Vine, who is Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 

[So, the  Gospels—Matthew , Mark, Luke and John, are the treasure trove of the Good News.  Our the past 4 weeks, we have reflected upon  4 gems of spirituality:

1.   From Matthew, we learned about the incredible Kingdom of heaven, which is both in heaven, with its roots here on earth.

2.   From Mark, we heard that we are called to be disciples of Christ, to grow in our relationship with Him, that we might make new disciples.

3.   From Luke, we heard how we are to be assistant shepherds, who help the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, to seek out the lost.

4.   And today from God, we have seen how all people are meant to be in relationship with Jesus—who is the vine, giving us His own life and spirit that we might bear good fruit in our homes, church, & in our communities.

 

 The Gospels tell us not only  about the life of Jesus, but they also tell us about  all of us, His followers.  

·      They tell us about who we are, and whom we are becoming;

·      Which through Jesus Christ, is better and better and then the  best.

·      Thanks be to God.]

The Gospel of Luke: Seeking the Lost

Today we continue our sermon series by looking at the heart of the Gospel of Luke.  The major theme of Luke’s Gospel, is, please repeat after me, Jesus using us// to seek out and to find the lost,// and to bring them into the Christian family. // This  following story, which occurs in Ireland during the early 19^th century, explains how this is done.

John Nelson Darby, an esteemed servant of Christ, having once been asked to see a poor boy who was dying in a remote &  wild district in Ireland, narrated the following account of his visit. He wrote:

After upwards of an hour's toilsome walking; on entering the miserable hovel, I looked around me, and at first found no sign of any inhabitant. Finally, I discovered a heap of straw upon which lay the very sick lad. I approached, and saw a young man  of 17 or 18 years of age, evidently in a state of extreme suffering and exhaustion; apparently  in the last stage of tuberculosis. I told him, as quietly as possible, who I was; and asked him if I could pray for him? He answered nothing; he appeared totally unconscious of my meaning. On pressing him further, and speaking to him kindly and affectionately, he looked up, and I ascertained from the few words he uttered that he had never been taught to read. The Holy Scriptures were a sealed book to him, and he was, consequently, altogether ignorant of the comfort, hope, & salvation offered by Jesus Christ. His mind on the subject was truly an utter blank.

I was struck with dismay, and almost with despair. Here was a fellow creature, the hand of death close upon him; not a moment was to be lost, and what was I to do? What way was I to take to begin to show  him, as it were, at the eleventh hour, that God personally loves Him, and will take care of him?

I had scarcely ever before felt such a sinking within me. I could do nothing; that I knew full well, but on the other hand, God could do all; I therefore raised up my heart and besought my Heavenly Father  to direct me.  I looked down upon him with an eye of pity and said, 'My poor boy, you are very ill; I fear you suffer a great deal.

"Yes, I have a bad cold; the cough takes away my breath and hurts me greatly.'

'How did you come by this cough?”  I asked.

 Ah,' he answered, 'and so I was until that terrible night; it was about this time of year, when one of the sheep went astray. My father keeps a few sheep upon the mountains, and this is the way we live. When he counted them that night, there was one missing, and he sent me to look for it. There was snow upon the ground, and the wind pierced me through; but I did not mind it much, as I was so anxious to find father's sheep.'

'And did you find it?' I asked, with increased interest. 'Oh, yes; I had a long weary way to go, but I never stopped until I found it.  The sheep it was dead beat and tired, so I laid it on my shoulders, and carried it home that way.' 'Father and mother, and the people around that heard of our loss, all came in next morning to ask about the sheep, for the neighbors are mighty kind to each other. Sorry they were, too, to hear that I was kept out the whole dark night; it was morning before I got home, and the end of it was, I caught this cold. Mother says I will never be better now; God knows best. Anyways, I did my best to save the sheep.'

'Wonderful!' I thought: 'here is the whole Gospel history. The sheep is lost, the father sends his son to seek for and recover it. The son goes willingly, suffers all without complaining, and in the end sacrifices his life to find the sheep, and when recovered, he carries it home on his shoulders to the flock, and rejoices with his friends and neighbors over the sheep that was lost, but is found again.' My prayer was answered, my way was made plain, and by the grace of God I availed myself of this happy opening. I explained to this poor dying boy the plan of salvation, making use of his own simple and affecting story. I read to him the few verses in the from Luke's Gospel, where the care of the shepherd for the strayed sheep is so beautifully expressed. At once tne lad understood, and followed me with deep interest while I explained to him the full meaning of the parable.

The Lord mercifully opened not only his understanding, but his heart also. He himself was the lost sheep, Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd, Who was sent by the Father to seek for Him. He understood that through me, Jesus had come to  search for him and other lost ones like himself. The boy prayed with me to receive Jesus into his heart. He understood it all.

If you call yourself a Christian, then you are in the lost sheep business. Most of us were brought to the fellowship of the Good Shepherd  by parents, or friends, or whoever.  We heard and received the Good News of God’s love, which is why we are here today.  However, it is not enough to hear and receive the love of God.  We must be willing to share it.  Notice how the man in the story did it: First he asked God for help in reaching out to this young man. Next, he befriended him by listening to his story.  Through listening to his story, he then found and opening so that he could share God’s love in a way that the dying man could best understand it.

Our job, is to listen to the stories of our family and friends, with an ear for discerning openings where we can share the Good News for God’s love.  Most people in our day and time, who are not part of the Christian family, are like the dying man: the bible is a closed book to them; their minds are totally blank on the subject.  But by our words and actions of love, the Word of God reaches out to touch the lives of those who are lost,  that they might learn of  the wonder of Jesus Christ.

 

So, this is fairly easy to do—if we have a heart for those who are lost----for those who do not know the love of God in Christ Jesus.  How much do you care that lost people in your family, in your neighborhood, and community are missing out on the most important thing in life?  Do we care or not?

·       Sometimes, I must admit that I have not cared. Sometimes I would rather think about the problems and issues in my own life, and family.

·        Then I will meet someone like Ted. Ted was one of the homeless people who attended Chapel on the Green last Sunday.  He is destitute, but he knows that Jesus loves him.  Ted made me think that in many ways, he is far richer than the 50 % of our neighbors, who maybe far wealthier than Ted in their finances, but not in their hearts—because for them, Jesus is Missing in Action. He is not known by them.

 

So, what can you do to help? I can tell you what some parishioners are doing:

1.    Some parishioners are spies of love, looking for openings to connect God’s love with the lost  in simple ways—emails, FB, conversations, etc.

2.    Some parishioners are inviters—inviting people to come to church, or to one of our fellowship activities, or to a small group.

3.    Others of us pray for the lost, knowing that God cares more about them than we do, and that God will show us how to reach out in God’s love.

4.    Others of us volunteer, as 19 parishioners did last Sunday at Chapel on the Green, and  as 30 or so did in hosting the shelter dinner on Monday.

5.    Others of us will invite a friend to attend a small group this fall.

6.    Still others of us will choose to volunteer in our Sunday School or Youth Group, because our youth need the experience of Christ’s love  more now than ever.

 

When I ask people about their experience is sharing God’s love in these and in other ways, most people say the same thing that several folks said last week. :  Quote, “IT WAS FUN” unquote.

·       Not the kind of fun that comes from riding a roller coaster.

·       No, this is the type of fun that comes when you realize that through you, Jesus has touched someone’s heart.

·       You can’t buy that type of fun, at any cost.

·       So, come and have fun with God. Reach out to the lost---and expect God’s joy to fill your heart, and theirs.  Amen.