June 18, 2017          Jesus Gives Us Authority
                                                                                                                        

         This week, I want to tell you a story about a woman named Florence. Florence was 92 years old, and lived in a small community of 500 people. Florence loved her church, attended services on Sunday and was active in the Women’s Fellowship. And there was one other thing that Florence did for her church, and that was bring new members into the church. Now Florence was not a hardcore evangelist, but she had a simple formula. She would look for someone who was new to town, and then invite the woman of the house to coffee or tea, as a welcome to the community.

Florence had a real talent for telling stories and listening. She also had a talent for crafts, pottery, and painting, which she would show to those who came over. Florence would also talk about the opportunities there were to make friends in the church, and to get information that would be helpful in setting up a new home. She would also invite them to church, and if they came on a Sunday, she would introduce them to as many people as possible. And finally, she would follow up with them, and invite them over for additional visits. Sometimes, she would even teach them to tat, crochet, quilt or paint. By the time Florence passed away, almost everyone had a Florence story to share, and over half of the church first came there through contact with Florence.

Now I realize that not everyone can be a Florence! Some might say that Florence was just a housewife – but I know plenty of housewives whose schedule is quite full, raising kids, doing housework, shopping, and even taking part time jobs to pay the bills. Some might say, that Florence was a widow and had lots of time – you can ask those who are widowed and retired about that one. Some might laugh, just like Sarah did in our old testament lesson this morning, unbelieving that Florence’s efforts could make a difference in people’s lives. or their church.  And finally, some might say, gee thanks pastor for trying to lay some kind of guilt trip on us - that is NOT my intention.

So what is my intention… My intention is to talk about Jesus sending out the twelve apostle’s to tell people “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”, to heal those who were sick, and to drive out unclean spirits.

Now as many of you know from reading the gospels. The disciples were a rather ordinary and somewhat motley crew, who spend most of their time not understanding what Jesus did or said. And until this surprise announcement that there are twelve disciples, Matthew has only shown us Jesus calling some fishermen, and a tax collector, to be disciples. Unfortunately, this new list doesn’t look much better, including both a religious zealot, a greek and a traitor. Not exactly priests, or ministers or even evangelists.

So when Jesus tells them what they are being sent out to do, they probably said, “you expect us to do what?” But of course, the text doesn’t say that, instead it simply says Jesus gave them authority to do these things, and so that’s what they go out and do! And that’s the key thing I focused on in the text this week. Jesus gave them authority! And as disciples of Jesus, Jesus gives us authority! And what authority is that you might ask. It is the authority that comes from knowing God’s grace towards us in Jesus Christ. As the well known spiritual puts it – Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see!

You see, just like those goofy, bumbling disciples, we don’t have to understand it, we don’t have to know how it works, all we have to do is remember how that amazing grace came into our lives, at a time when we were sick, or lost, or a stranger, or hungry, or thirsty, or naked, as Matthew will later put it in his gospel. All we need to do if find ways to share that amazing grace with those around us! And one thing more, one very important thing, when we remember that amazing grace, showing that grace towards others is not a burden, but a joy!

As a minister, I have met many people who have found ways to share this amazing grace. A Music teacher who made it his job to integrate a new student into his song and dance choir each year. A retired farmer who looked for kids whose families were in trouble, and invited them to join his horse riding group. A man who when the power went out, checked on his neighbors and brought candles to them, and when it snowed would check on them as well. A woman who when a neighbor’s spouse passed away, made a donation to pay the hall rent for the funeral luncheon – even for neighbors she didn’t like much. These are but a few examples, and I would bet that there are plenty of these in at Union Congregational, and in churches throughout the country. Examples of people who have found creative ways to share God’s grace, and who Jesus has given authority to be his apostles.  

Now, I don’t expect you to go out and try to be Florence! But as disciples of Jesus Christ, I encourage you to look for those opportunities to share God’s grace in your lives with those who are sick, those who are lost, those who are strangers, those who are troubled. For by that Amazing Grace shown to you in Jesus Christ, you have been given authority to do the works that Jesus has done, and even greater works!  And that’s the good news of Jesus Christ. 

June 11, 2017        Creation and Re-Creation
                                                       

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!  Thus begins Psalm 8 which we read as our Call to Worship this morning. Psalm 8 is the first psalm of praise in the psalter – list of psalms. And Psalm  8 was chosen as the first piece of human literature to go into space, on the first moon landing. Why Psalm 8? Because psalm 8 describes not just human life, but life that is of a higher purpose, the best that we are, and that life comes to us through faith in God.  

Whenever I do a psalm study on Psalm 8, there are four things that I keep in mind. First, Psalm 8 begins and ends with that opening statement. "O LORD, our lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth." This statement of faith, sets the boundaries of the psalm, and everything within the psalm reflects the life that is found in that faith! Psalm 8 says nothing about other god’s or lords, for there are plenty of them in the world, - but it speaks only of the God of Israel. Which is the God we know of in Jesus Christ.

Second, “out of the mouths of babes and infants, you have founded a bulwark because of your foes to silence the enemy and the avenger.” When I read this line, I often think of the cry of my daughters as infants, or now my granddaughter. That powerful urging to care for the weak and the helpless. I think of the picture of the child in Allepo, or the Chinese student standing before the tank in Tienaman square. The concern for peace and justice in a world filled with violence and war. And finally, I think of the Israelites, crying out in Egypt to be freed from slavery and oppression. This is God’s spirit in the midst of the world, which seeks compassion, justice, and freedom for all.

            Third, “what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them, yet you have made them a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.” This statement is a reminder that we have been made in the image of God, and that it is only in a life of faith that we will realize this glory and honor. It is a reminder that our lives find their purpose in showing God’s compassion, seeking God’s justice, and discovering God’s freedom for all.

          Finally, “You have given them dominion over the works of your hands, and put all things under their feet.” This statement speaks of our place in the order of God’s creation, we have been given dominion. And this dominion is shaped by what he have read in the psalm already. It is not the worldly dominion of presidents, kings, or emperors. It is not the worldly dominion of soldiers and wars or crosses. It is the dominion of stewards, caretakers, and servants. It is the dominion that comes from God’s compassion, justice, and freedom expressed in human life.

          I decided to base my sermon on Psalm 8, because this weekend at the Illinois Conference meeting, we celebrated the ministry of a number people who spent some 60 years living this faith that is described in Psalm 8, and the glory, honor, and dominion that their lives demonstrated.

         The first ministry we celebrated was that of a couple who worked diligently on the plight of workers. One of the most interesting things about their ministry was their work on behalf of farm workers in the state of Illinois, seeking fair treatment and safe working conditions. Seeking equal pay for workers doing the same jobs, seeking water and breaks for laborers in the field, seeking to stop airborne spraying of crops while workers are in the field.

        Second, we celebrated the ministry of a couple who worked as mission interpreters in the Illinois Conference, seeking to connect people to the numerous missions to Guatemala, Angola, and here in the US, that made a difference in human lives. They were also celebrated for their efforts on the Justice and Witness committee of the UCC, advocating for immigrant workers, women, children, and people of race, so that they may know justice and freedom in this great nation.

        Finally, we celebrated the work of a third couple on behalf of people with mental illness. Their work sprung out of a brother taking his life, and their sense of compassion that drove them to ensure that the people of Illinois and the nation had access and training to help those with that type of illness. In addition they created programs to help those who cared for and could refer people with mental illness for treatment, and they created educational opportunities to help lay people overcome the stigma of people with mental illness, so they would not be excluded but included in our congregations and society. 

         These individuals in their work have lived within the boundaries of Psalm 8, recognizing God as their Sovereign, and responded to the cries of those who are unloved, treated unjustly, or oppressed by the world. In their ministries, they have shown us how the power of faith in Jesus Christ, gives us dominion over the powers of darkness in human life. Now some might think that's great for pastors and leaders in the church, but each one of these individuals, gave thanks for all of the people in the local churches, associations, conferences and national church bodies who also have responded to their cries.  The local lay people who have all been a part of these programs, and in doing so, lived out their faith as well. Without these people, there would be none of these great accomplishments, no great changes in our world.  In this, they remind us that even at the local level, we can live out our faith and take part in overcoming the enemies and avengers in our lives, and realize the glory and honor that God has crowned us with! 

May 28, 2017                 Glory
                                                                                                 

         The Rev. Dr. Sheila Cooper was about to retire. She had served as a conference minister for 8 years. She had done outstanding work, reconciling a divided conference, and helping to heal many broken churches. She was loved and respected by the people she had served, and many were saddened by her retiring. Yes, Rev. Dr. Cooper was retiring, but she had one last thing to do before she retired, she had to attend a meeting at Eden UCC in Edmundsville, ID.

         Eden UCC had a long history of division and animosity towards the United Church of Christ. In good times, the church had grown to over 2000 members, as it focused on the gospel of Jesus Christ and ministered to it’s community. In not so good times, it was filled with division over the work and pronouncements of the denomination, and these struggles drove a lot of faithful people away from the church. This was another of those not so good times, and some of the members where pushing to leave the UCC.

         So on the Thursday night, before her retirement service, She was at Eden to answer questions about the denomination. For over an hour she answered questions, both polite and impolite, about the churches stance on LBGT people, on immigrants, on Muslims, on confirmation programs, on scriptural interpretation, and on OCWM’s use of funds. And for over an hour, she repeatedly spoke of God’s love revealed to us in Jesus Christ, and how that love for all people, was the motivation for the UCC pronouncements and ministries. She spoke of the unity of the church in Christ, and how allowing our political perspectives can create division and cause churches to struggle. She gently reminded the people, that if Jesus Christ was truly our LORD and SAVIOR, then we should all be able to work together on those things we agree on, and not tear our churches apart over those things we don’t agree on.

         On the following Sunday, I got to be present at Rev. Dr. Cooper’s retirement service. It was a wonderful day, filled with singing, joy, fond memories and tears. But as I reflected on these two events, her retirement service, and that Thursday night meeting, I would say, that the moment of God’s glory in her ministry, was revealed in her defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ on that Thursday night. And the members of Eden UCC might have agreed, because when the vote was held, they chose to remain in the United Church of Christ.

         In our gospel lesson this morning, Jesus speaks of God the father’s glory, as it has been manifest in him during his ministry. Now many people think of the glory of Jesus as he comes on the clouds to judge humankind. And truly that day will come! But the glory that the gospel of John speaks about is the glory of God’s love in Jesus life. The love manifest in Jesus death upon the cross, manifest in his forgiving sinners, in restoring the unclean to community, in freeing those bound in slavery to evil spirits, in healing not just jews but foreigners, and preaching God’s love to them as well.  

The glory manifest in his preaching of the gospel, and the crowds of followers it found. The glory of those who heard it and became his disciples, so they could live, not by the rules of the world which seek to divide and enslave us, but by the rules of God’s kingdom which unite us and set us free. This is the glory of which John speaks, and on this final night, Jesus speaks of this glory, and prays for his disciples, and all who become his followers, that they may protected from worldly division, chaos, and death.

In our gospel lesson, Jesus tells us that this love is not known by the world. And that dovetails beautifully with our reading from the Acts last week about the Unknown God. For the gospel of Jesus Christ is not a gospel of success, or power, or wealth. It is a gospel of how God’s love overcomes sin, suffering and death in human life. It is a gospel that heals the broken, lifts up the oppressed, sets free those who are enslaved, overcomes division with unity, and seeks justice for the powerless.

And Jesus knows, that the world will not love us for this gospel. Just look at our news headlines in this past week. The world does not want to spend it’s budget on healing the broken. The world wants to spend more on police to keep the oppressed in line. The world prefers that those who are enslaved - remain poor, addicted to drugs, or locked away in jail. The world prefers that we continue to fight with other nations, faiths, and peoples, because when people are afraid they are more easily controlled. The world doesn’t want justice for the powerless, because it will interfere with the lives of the powerful.  

And throughout history, those who have opposed the world, who have proclaimed the gospel of God’s love and ministered to the powerless, have been jailed, thrown to lions, or labeled as heathens or unchristian. And that’s why Jesus prays for his disciples in his gospel lesson, that they may be gathered into communities of faith for their own protection, and so they may do the work he calls them to do.  

This week, I reflected upon the AIDs ministry that a UCC congregation in the Illinois Conference started. People in the community, didn’t want people with AIDS meeting in the church. People in the church didn’t want AIDS people in the church. Other churches denounced this ministry in the community. But the church, chose to affirm this ministry and in their unity, they grew strong in the Spirit of Christ. It reminded me of the work of American Missionary Society of the Congregation church with slavery. Or the work of the UCC on behalf of immigrant farm workers, or the handicapped, or those living in inner cities, or even the selling of free trade coffee in our local churches. In all of this we are doing work that Jesus calls us to do, and in doing that work we grow strong in our Christian faith as well. In all this, the powers of the world are being overcome, and we are establishing the kingdom of heaven in our midst!