Prayers of Intercession

Rejoicing that the grace of God has been revealed in the birth of Jesus Christ, the light of the world, let us pray for the church, those in need, and all of God's creation.

A brief silence.

Almighty God, You have given your church grace upon grace. Bless her mission to proclaim your salvation to the farthest parts of the earth. Gracious God, hear our prayer.

Almighty God  You have filled us with the finest wheat. Move us to share from our bounty that others may be satisfied. Gracious God, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, You have made all nations one in you. Grant your wisdom and insight to those who lead, and give all countries, especially in the Middle East,  peace within their borders and with other nations. Gracious God, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, You hear the needs of all. Send your healing Spirit to the blind, the lame, and the sick especially Tracey, Ruth Ann, Andrea, Char, Katie, Kelley, Nancy, Brittany, Weston, George, Eileen, Lorraine, Neva and Milton, that they may know your consolation. Gracious God, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, You have marked your children with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit and have adopted us as your own. Empower us to claim our inheritance as children of God in service to others.  Guide the  LIFE Board and the call committee in their ongoing work, and remember our brother Henry as he moves into new work for your Church. Gracious God, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, You give us life.  Bless Hunter and Skip as they celebrate their birthdays this week, and the marriages of Milton & Doris and Angie & Brian.  Grant safe travel to Bishop Lohrmann and his colleagues and permit their visit to be a word of encouragement.  Gracious God, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, You promise comfort for all who grieve and turn their mourning into joy. We give you thanks for all who have died in Christ (especially Paul Karg), and we wait in anticipation for the day when you gather all things in heaven and on earth in you. Gracious God, hear our prayer.

 Into your hands, gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Amen.

SECOND WEEKEND OF CHRISTMAS, 2008, SERIES B

FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN, Upper Sandusky

Jeremiah 31:7–14; Psalm 147:12–20; Ephesians 1:3–14; John 1:1–18

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

I just recently heard tomorrow / today referred to as “Hangoever” Sunday.  It had nothing to do with it being so close to New Year’s Eve, or even with those of us recovering from various flus and colds. 

Bible scholars were discussing this second weekend of Christmas and they were pondering the challenges of still celebrating Christmas while the rest of the world has moved on to something else.  They noted that for many of us, the VISA or MasterCard bills have arrived, and we may be feeling the general letdown after all the guests have left, and the tree is still waiting to be taken down.  One person noted that he and his siblings used to insist that their mother take down their tree while they were in school so they would not have to “witness the sadness.”

There was a time and Stu might say it’s still this way…, when I just hated to put up the Christmas decorations because I knew that it meant that at some point I would have to take them down!  A friend of mine would frequently still have her tree up into March, I think, for that very reason.  (It was artificial.) 

Although we’ve already passed the longest night of the winter season, December 21, we may feel even more in darkness right now as we look at the world.  Natural disasters, if not on the horizon at the moment, are no doubt not that far away.  There are wars and rumors of war in many directions.  Even the land where Jesus lived appears to be in more darkness than light with all the recent conflict.  Our bishops are either very brave, or very crazy to go there right now. 

It is good, then, for us to hear the declaration that the “hangover” is not the last word for us.  It is good to be reminded that there is a better word, a Word with a capital ‘W’ which can capture not just our attention, but our hearts, minds and souls.  On this tenth/eleventh day of Christmas, we are reminded that In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

When we talk about Christmas, it is natural that our first thoughts take us to a baby in the manger, Mary and Joseph, the Shepherds, and a stable.  It is expected that we would anticipate our Christmas readings to remind us of that first Christmas night, and how Jesus came to us as a baby.  That is, after all, part of the glory of the first Christmas. Because of that, we might resent it that our scriptures move so quickly away from a baby in the manger and return us to a grown up Jesus and his purpose for the World.  Many people “like baby Jesus best.” 

In a way, our gospel reading today is John’s Nativity story -- the story of how God’s Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  John begins with the phrase “in the beginning” to help us remember that first beginning, where God created the world out of a formless void.  And then John makes sure we know that it is this same God, this same Word which spoke in the beginning, who entered this world “in the flesh”  and made God known to us. 

But John doesn’t stop there.  John wants us to know that the good news is that Jesus did not remain a baby, nor did Jesus remain bound to one place and time.    Instead, Jesus grew up and through his death and resurrection brought us salvation, forgiveness, and life everlasting.  In His ascension Jesus became accessible to the whole world of all time and space.  This is what John is trying to tell us.  Whatever glory was experienced at the manger is multiplied out into a magnificence we cannot imagine!.

John says, He, i.e., God was in the world.  And there is no turning back.  There is no return to  pre-creation state.  There is no return to a time when the Word was not flesh.  There is no return to a time when the words of the Prophets were all we had.  the Word became flesh and lived among us.  That celebration should be enough for a party which never has a hangover!

When our Tuesday evening text study met to look at these four scripture readings for today, this is the passage which caught my attention.  Yes, there  is much to be said about Jeremiah 31, Psalm 147, and Ephesians 1 as well, but there is something outstanding about these words from John which invite us to come and see, one more time. 

There is so much here to treasure.  As we read through this passage we can see that God wants us to realize that this gift of the Word in the flesh is available to each and everyone of us.  God wants us to receive this Word and believe in this same Word.  God wants us to live knowing we have grace to be in the light.  It’s true that people can reject Jesus, but God’s light continues to shine upon us all.  The darkness did not overcome it, then, and it will not overcome it now.

Another treasure here is in Verse 16: From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.  What can it mean to have grace upon grace?  Picture yourself falling into a bright white comforter, with the sides folding up around you.  Or, think of the feeling a child might have jumping into one of those containers filled with small balls which just sort of fill up around you.  Grace upon grace is something which surrounds us, something which is never in our control, but always well within reach. 

What can it mean to have grace upon grace?  I think it means that there is so much love given to us from God that we can never experience it all.  We can never run out of God’s love.  Or, as someone told me the other day, “there is nothing so dark in our lives that Jesus isn’t brighter.” 

And, in this world, that is an important thing to know.  This world is not always a pretty place.  It can get grim.  A “hangover” is a fairly mild problem in this world.  It is good…, it is great, to be able to turn to the Word made flesh and know that Jesus has given us the power to be children of God, despite anything that we might encounter. 

Therefore, this Word made flesh becomes our source of hope, and our source of renewal.  This Word becomes our food so that we can live like children of God, giving thanks to God, and sharing that sense of gratitude with others. 

As we bring this Christmas season to a close, let us remember that the Word remains with us, so that we can carry it into the world, light into darkness.  Amen. 

FOURTH WEEKEND OF ADVENT, 2008, SERIES B            “Go!”

First Evangelical Lutheran, Upper Sandusky, OH 43351

2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16; Luke 1:47–55; Romans 16:25–27; Luke 1:26–38

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

What would you do?  Would you say “no,” or “go?”

What would you do if an angel appeared to you while you were in the midst of your daily tasks, and greeted you as a favored one of God? 

What would you do if this angel then informed you that God had a new plan for your life?  One which sounded impossible?

I appreciate that the first words from Gabriel after the greeting were “Do not be afraid.”  It would, after all, be a great shock to one’s system to be confronted with such an unearthly vision.  Although we are rarely if ever told what angels look like, we know that fire, flames, or light, are often associated with them.  We know that angels tend to appear when God has a special message for a human being.  We know that people were often frightened by angels’ appearances. 

For a young woman like Mary who was really still a girl, such an encounter would have to be unsettling to say the least.  She had to be more than a bit frightened to see such a vision of heavenly beauty. 

“Do not be afraid.”  It gave her a moment to compose herself.  But just moment.  Gabriel goes on with his message.  It must have sounded like a roar of rushing water:  favor… conceive and bear a son… He will be great… He will reign…of his kingdom there will be no end.   

That last part -- it probably sounded familiar.  It was part of what was known as the Davidic Covenant.  That is, it was part of the promise which God had given to King David when David had planned to build a house for God.  That’s why our first reading is from 2 Samuel today.  Did you catch that connection?  Long before Mary was even a twinkle in her daddy’s eye, David had already been promised that his family line would never end.  His “house”, his lineage would be forever.  Instead of David building God a house, the Lord would make a house for him  It was a promise which may have seemed broken over the course of time.  In Mary’s day, Herod was king, and he was no son of David. 

But the people of Israel were a people of hope.  They believed in the promises of God even when the world suggested that it would be impossible for them to be fulfilled.  And now, perhaps in the courtyard of her family’s home, Mary was reminded of that promise -- that covenant made with the ancestor of her betrothed, Joseph of the house of David.  It is enough to make one’s head spin!

What would you do?  Would you say “no,” or “go?” 

I wonder if Mary thought back through her Jewish history and remember those reports of Sarah, and Hannah, older, barren women who had been promised babies in their old age? I wonder if she spent time trying to recall if there had ever been a woman of her tender age given such a promise?  Maybe she remembered the prophet Jeremiah who tried to tell God he was too young to be a prophet, only to have God say, “Do not say ‘you are only a boy’.” 

She could sense that there was something out of kilter here -- she wasn’t old and desperate for a child, she was young and not even married, yet.  “How can this be?” she asks.  Gabriel is much kinder to her than he was to Zechariah, the Temple priest, when he challenged Gabriel’s message about the coming of John.  Zechariah is made mute for the duration of Elizabeth’s pregnancy -- lucky Elizabeth (did I say that out loud?).  Just kidding.  Gabriel reveals to her God’s plan, for her, for her child, and for the people of Israel. 

What would you do?  Would you say “no,” or “go?”

Have you ever agreed to do something,  and then, as you think it over, you wonder, “what have I done?”  Have you ever reflected on a decision and realized the magnitude of it all and realized that there is going to be a lot of heavy-duty change in the future?  When I think of this cooperative and what we have agreed to do here, it makes me realize that we are in for some changes here in Upper Sandusky.  The good news for us is that we have just worked through a rocky time in this congregation, and we know that with the help of God nothing is impossible.  We not only survived these past two years, we have become healthier, and we can face whatever the new year brings. 

Well, Mary said, “let it be with me according to your word.”  But did she realize what all that meant?  She would have to explain it to her family.  To Joseph!  She might be accused of adultery.  She might be stoned.  She was to carry the child of God, the son of the Most High!  God in the flesh.  Emmanuel.  God with us.  Theo-tokos is what the Greeks call Mary -- the “God-bearer”  No one in the history of Israel had ever been asked to do such a thing as this before.  To give birth to God’s son was indeed a new thing. 

God did not leave Mary alone in all of this.  In the richness of God’s wisdom, God provided for her a confidante.  A woman who would understand some of what Mary was surely experiencing, but because of her advanced age, she could also be a mentor to Mary at a time when everything was spinning way too fast.  Elizabeth. 

How Kind God was to Mary!  And to Elizabeth as well.  For to whom else could Elizabeth talk freely about what was happening to her?  She was now in her sixth month, and she had hidden herself away from her neighbors.  After all, they knew her age.  They knew Zechariah’s too.  As he had said to Gabriel when the angel had appeared to him regarding John’s birth: "How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years."  Elizabeth’s own pregnancy had to have produced at least a few raised eyebrows, if not some chuckles.

Who else could really understand how the impossible had become possible, except someone who was in the same shape?  Literally. 

You know, this part of the story is the least impossible of all.  This part of the story, where Mary goes to see Elizabeth and stays with her until John is born, is the most believable part of the whole passage in Luke.  What happened in this portion of the story is not even told to us, beyond the beautiful song Mary sang upon seeing Elizabeth -- the Magnificat.  Beyond that song, we have no idea what Mary and Elizabeth said to each other.  But if I could guess, I would imagine it was a time of the mutual consolation and conversation of the souls.  I would imagine that Mary found great peace when her own impossible encounter was confirmed by what she heard from Elizabeth.  And Elizabeth found great peace in having a fellow woman with whom she could share her joy. 

This is one thing which is not so impossible for any of us to undertake, is it?  We can all take time to be an Elizabeth, or a Mary for someone else.  We can be sure that at the right time God will place a “Mary” in our lives, or an “Elizabeth” for whom we can offer encouragement, or from whom we can seek support. 

What would you do?  Would you say “no,” or “go?”

Earlier I mentioned that only Mary has ever been asked to give birth to God’s Son.  That is true enough. But, ever since that time we have all been invited to share in her calling, to bear Christ to the world.  How is this possible?  We don’t need an angel to tell us how.  We only need to remember what it is that Jesus Himself told us.  Jesus commanded us to love one another as He loved us.  Jesus called us to serve one another as he served us. 

We might feel overwhelmed at such a task, even as we feel the honor and privilege to bear Christ to the world.  Our concerns can be laid to rest as we recall the words from the angel to Mary:  For nothing will be impossible with God.  We can count on God to keep His promises to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus just as God kept his promises through the prophets of old.  We can count on Jesus to be with us just as He promised to be.  We can embrace the role of being God’s servants, now and forever.

What would you do?  Would you say “no,” or “go?”  Mary said “Go”.  We can say, “Go” too.  Amen. 

SECOND WEEKEND IN ADVENT, 2008, SERIES B

FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN, UPPER SANDUSKY, OH

MARK 1:1-8

GET SET!

 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen. 

You might begin to see a connection between my sermons this Advent if you recall that last weekend’s sermon title was On Your Mark!  Today, it’s Get Set!  Any guesses as the to title of next week’s?

I want to return to my original intent last week of reflecting upon the gospel of Mark.  You may recall that our Lutheran Sunday Scripture Readings, or the Lectionary, as it is called, follow a three year cycle.  Each year we use either Matthew, Mark, or Luke as the primary source for gospel readings.  We fill in with readings from the gospel according to John when appropriate.  Last year we used Matthew.  This year, beginning with Advent, we focus on Mark.  Next year, ________Luke.

Of course, each gospel, including John, carries the story of Jesus -- the Son of God, also known as the Son of Man.  Each gospel reveals that Jesus is Messiah, the Christ, the anointed one who was to come and lead God’s people back to God.  Each gospel reports various teachings, healings, and miracles or signs which Jesus performed in his ministry.  And each gospel, of course, reports the passion -- the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. 

Each evangelist: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John was writing to a different group of people who were undergoing different circumstances in their local situations.  Some of what is said doesn’t always make sense to us.  And yet, each evangelist was also writing to us, offering us different facets of Jesus’ life, and revealing to us truths about our own situation. 

I am convinced that a person cannot simply read through any of these gospels one time and be aware of or understand  everything that is contained in them.  Bible study is a lifelong process, and one which calls for our ongoing participation.  We’re not satisfied with an eighth grade education in any other part of our life; we shouldn’t be satisfied with it in our faith life either. 

So, let’s go over a few basics about the gospel according to St. Mark, and prepare ourselves to be immersed in the year of Mark during our worship. 

The gospel according to St. Mark is brief and to the point.  About half of this book is dedicated to the Passion of our Lord.  There are no frills, no bells, no whistles.  There is no nativity scene, no magi, or shepherds, nor even a climactic end appearance of the resurrected Jesus in the original ending of Mark.  That last fact bothered enough people in the Early Church that several resurrection appearances were attached to this gospel and we still include them today.  It might offend our modern day sense of propriety to learn this, but an addition from another source was quite a common pattern in the early church. 

What Mark lacks in bells and whistles, he makes up for in his brevity.  As one of my professors used to say, “Mark simply tells us about an average, ordinary day in the life of Jesus.”  Of course, as we read through the gospel, we quickly realize that nothing was ever, ever, ever, ordinary or average about Jesus’ day.  What we also quickly discover about Mark is that he wrote to people who already knew the identity of Jesus.  People like us.  But should there be any questions about Jesus’ identity, it is right there in verse one of chapter one:  The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Thus, the reader of this gospel knows who Jesus is.  Reading this gospel, however, is like reading a mystery when you know the butler did it, but the detective assigned to the case is bumbling all over the place, seemingly missing every clue.  Think Columbo. 

In this case, there are twelve detectives bumbling all over the place.  The reader knows who Jesus is, the Gentiles know who Jesus is, even the demons know who Jesus is, but the prayerfully and carefully selected twelve disciples regularly and persistently fail to understand that they are standing near THE Son of God, the Messiah.  And yet, Jesus remains with them.

That comforts me.  It assures me that even when I am bumbling and bungling along in my faith, Jesus remains with me and directs me along God’s chosen path.  He does that for us all. 

So the question is, what is it that we can learn from the gospel according to St. Mark?  What sort of clues about living in this present time might we be able to pick up from Mark’s gospel? 

Last weekend I encouraged us all to take time to re-read Mark’s gospel this week.  It’s a short book, so it can be done in one sitting.  I hope you took the time to do that.  I hope you picked up on the urgency of the message God has for us. 

Now, I suggest that we take time to stroll through Mark in a more leisurely fashion.  Keep in mind that this is the story of what God has done, and is doing for us through Jesus Christ.  Mark’s message is not primarily about what we can do for God, although that is there.  St. Mark, the evangelist, is intent on letting us know about God’s faithfulness for us through his Son Jesus.  That is, Mark wants us to know that God has done and is doing for us. 

Martin Luther, in his Small catechism noted that through the Holy Spirit, God calls, gathers, enlightens, sanctifies, and keeps us as his own.  One way to study the gospel of Mark is by searching for clues of how this was done by Jesus.

First, what do we learn about how we are called from Mark?  We learn that Jesus is the one who calls people.  In fact, throughout the Bible rarely if ever will you encounter a time when God asks for volunteers.  The prophet Isaiah seems to be a major exception to this rule when God asks, Whom shall I send?  Otherwise, God selects those who are to be his people:  Abraham and Sarah, Moses, the Israelites, the prophets.  Jesus called his disciples.  Jesus calls us. 

Secondly, we see that Jesus gathers us into his family.  In Mark 3 Jesus says, Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.  Jesus said this upon learning that his mother and brothers were waiting to see him.  I doubt that his intent was to dismiss their relationship with him, but to broaden the scope of who can be in Jesus’ family.  We may stumble and bumble along the Way, but we are children of the heavenly Father, striving to do God’s will, and knowing that Jesus calls us family.

Thirdly, Jesus enlightens us with special knowledge and teachings.  As we read through Mark, we notice that whenever Jesus’ disciples misunderstand His teachings, He takes time to set them straight.  This is best done when we gather together with others, too.  Yes, we all need to take time to read scripture on our own, but the best way to gain insight is when we can talk about God’s Word with others.  This also helps to keep us from misinterpreting Scripture, or twisting it to mean something for our own benefit.

Jesus also empowers us for mission.  In chapter 6 we learn that Jesus gave his disciples authority over the unclean spirits so that they could cast out demons and anoint with oil many who were sick and cure them.  And later, in chapter 9 Jesus declares that whoever is not against him and his disciples is for them, so we know that this empowerment is not something just for the original twelve, but for all of us.  Maybe we won’t ever cast out unclean spirits in a biblical manner but we can certainly tell others of the good news about Jesus.

Finally, Jesus keeps us in spite of our failure to be faithful 100% of the time.  In Mark 14, in the Mount of Olives prior to His arrest, Jesus warns his disciples that they will all desert him.  But in the next sentence, Jesus promises to go before them to Galilee.  In other words, they can expect a reunion with Jesus regardless of their failures.  We can rest assured that Jesus will do no less for any of his family members.

The gospel of Mark shows us that it is God who acts on our behalf.  By the Holy Spirit we are called, gathered, enlightened, empowered and kept in the same manner in which Jesus did for his disciples, which, therefore, makes us disciples as well.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen. 

THANKSGIVING EVE, 2008

Upper Sandusky, OH

LUKE 17:11-19  “Twice Blessed”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Greetings to all of you on this Eve of our national Day of Thanksgiving.  I arrived in Upper in October of 2000, after the choice for that year’s preacher had been made, so I missed the traditional “new kid in the pulpit” hazing.  By the next year, someone else was new.  I thought I might just manage to be overlooked completely. 

In the eight years I’ve been here we’ve held this service in almost every church building in town.  In fact this is where it was my first year.  Each service has carried the flavors of the host congregation, and that has allowed for us to see the wonderful cornucopia of variety within the Christian community. 

I would like to take just a moment to let you know about some of the exciting activities taking place at First Evangelical Lutheran, St. Paul Lutheran and North Salem Lutheran Churches here in Wyandot County.  As you may know, since 2002 we have participated together in a partnership, for the purpose of family and youth ministry.  We called it Lutherans in Partnership, or LIP for short. 

In September of this year, after six months of intense study and dreaming, all three of our congregations voted to form a Cooperative Ministry Board which will oversee pastoral ministry for all three congregations.  By the end of 2009, we hope to have two full-time pastors, two part time laity, and one Administrative Assistant serving all three congregations.  We will continue to remain three individual congregations with our own councils, constitutions, and programming.  We even have a name:  Lutherans in Faith for Everyone, INC., or LIFE.

It’s an exciting time in our congregations, but also a time with many questions for which we are still seeking answers.  Of course, as with any change, there are always rumors, so if you hear something which sounds too ridiculous to be true, it probably isn’t true. 

Well, let us move on to the matter at hand.  Now, be honest.  As you heard the scripture being read, did you wonder what on earth ten lepers had to do with Thanksgiving Day?  I’ll tell you something.  22 years ago, that would not have been my first choice for a Thanksgiving text.  But 18 years ago, I attended a Harvest Home Service at which the preacher was our bishop at the time, James Rave.  As he read the lesson for the day, I wondered what he could possibly do with that. 

His first observation was that Luke 17 was the appointed Thanksgiving Day gospel reading in the Lutheran lectionary.  Now if you know anything about Lutherans, you know that we cling to liturgical guidelines like a baby monkey to its mother, so if the lectionary says Luke 17:11-19, it must be so. 

Bishop Rave said a whole lot of things which I don’t remember, but there was one point he made about this passage which has stuck with me ever since.  It is the one reason why I repeatedly return to this passage when I think of Thanksgiving Day.  Bishop Rave observed that all ten of the lepers were once blessed by Jesus.  They were blessed because Jesus healed them all.  He had sent them on to the priests.  They were under no obligation to return to Jesus for any reason. 

We can get all picky about why the others didn’t return, were they ungrateful?  Were they so excited about being healed that they ran back to their old lives? We just don’t know. 

But this we do know. One did return.  This one didn’t even bother going to the priest.  In fact, since he was a Samaritan, I’m not sure that a priest would have appreciated his appearance.  He was, after all, a foreigner.  I understand that there was even an inscription in the Temple which said “no foreigner is to enter.”  So this Samaritan had no reason to go see the priest, despite Jesus’ command.  Instead, upon being healed, he returned to worship Jesus, and to give him thanks. 

To this one who returned, Jesus said:  Get up and go on your way, your faith has made you well.  It was a second blessing.  Jesus did not demand anything more out of this man.  He simply acknowledged his faith, and set him on his way.  As Bishop Rave noted, that made this tenth leper who was already blessed, the one who was Twice blessed.  

You might be expecting me to say something about the difference between the first cleansing of the ten, and this statement by Jesus to the tenth.  I thought about it.  I “Googled” it, and believe me, there is plenty to be found about those distinctions.  Some scholars lifted up this as a difference between being healed and being saved.  They argued that only the one who returned to Jesus received salvation.  But our scripture doesn’t say that, does it?   It makes no distinction about that.

Other scholars spend great amounts of time focusing on the differences between healing and curing.  A topic to be pursued, I sure, but not our focus tonight.  Still others…, well Google the ten lepers on your own time to discover what all is out there. 

Twice blessed.  This Samaritan, this leper who was cured, was under no obligation to return to Jesus.  He was under no obligation to thank Jesus, nor was he expected to worship him, which is what it meant for one to prostrate one’s self.  He was twice blessed because he did return to the one who was, and is, and will be.  He saw in Jesus the one who is God.  He was under no obligation to return, and yet he did. 

That’s what this evening’s worship is all about.  We are under no obligation to be here (unless your catechism instructors said so).  Most of us attended a weekend worship service, at our regular gathering spots.  At those places we worshipped and adored God, and we were blessed by our Lord in return.  We didn’t have to come here tonight.  But here we are.  We have returned to a place where we all already received God’s blessing in Christ to, once more, worship God, and give Jesus thanks.  It is here tonight where we receive a second blessing. 

In order to be aware of and appreciate this second blessing, it is good to take time and reflect on some of the first blessings that we have received in our lives.  As a Lutheran pastor I often return to what Martin Luther wrote in his brief explanation to the first article of the Apostles’ Creed which declares  I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. Luther wrote: I believe that God has created me and all that exists.  God has given me and still preserves my body and soul with all their powers. God provides me with food and clothing, home and family, daily work, and all I need from day to day. God also protects me in time of danger and guards me from every evil. All this God does out of fatherly and divine goodness and mercy, though I do not deserve it. Therefore I surely ought to thank and praise, serve and obey God. This is most certainly true.

At the same time we all know of folks who are struggling to make ends meet.  I’m about ready to change the dial on my alarm clock radio, because lately, every morning, upon awakening, NPR is always on a story about the economic struggles in this nation.  Or, if not that, it’s about the horrors in the Sudan. Rather than wanting to get up, I just want to hide under the covers.  I wonder what Luther would have to say to that?  Actually, I know what Luther would say -- “get up and use the gifts God has given you to make sure others have enough.”  Or something like that.  Anyway, Luther’s point is that God does intend to preserve, provide, and protect all people.  It is a blessing given to all creation, just as all ten lepers were blessed with being healed.

So, what does our tenth leper get that the other nine do not?  Another Lutheran Scholar has observed that he received four things: (Fred Gaiser) 

First, insight-he received the recognition that in his cure he has been encountered by God.  The veil lifts for him, and he sees, at least for an instant, not only what people are doing, but what God is doing. He is given the eyes of faith.

Second, transformation -- he is given a new world, a new view of the world, a new way of living. He is no longer bound by the old social orders of restriction. The "leper only" signs on the drinking fountains of life no longer apply to him. He is free.

Third, relationship. He sings to God, praises God, talks to God. He lives in a larger reality now. God was, no doubt, always part of his life in some way. But now he is in dialogue with God. God is a partner in the conversation that shapes his life. God is not an abstract force, but a real power to whom he speaks. He has been brought into this relationship with God by meeting Jesus, and now glorifying God and thanking Jesus are virtually the same thing, fully parallel in our story. He knows God; he knows God in Christ.

Fourth, he is in a new community, a community of the disciples, the people gathered around Jesus. As a Samaritan he was outcast. As a leper he was outcast. Now he's an "incast," welcomed at the table of Christ. Healing means restoration to community-a community that is itself no longer the same. *

The more we ponder on this passage from Luke, the more we can see that our tenth leper received not just a second blessing, but multiple blessings, all because he returned to worship and give thanks to God in Christ Jesus. 

Our Day of Thanksgiving is an opportunity for us to reflect upon the blessings in our lives.  It is a time for us to give thanks to God for what we have, and to worship God in Christ Jesus.  It is a time to remember the greatest blessing to us in the death and resurrection of Jesus.  

And then, it is a time to know that we are twice, thrice, and even quadrupledly blessed because we like Jesus himself, are now signs of the power and love of God, turned loose in the world.

Amen. 

* Frederick J. Gaiser, sermon at St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church, 2001

© 2008 Rev. Julianne D. Smith

27^TH WEEKEND AFTER PENTECOST, 2008, LECTIONARY 33A

First Evangelical Lutheran, Upper Sandusky, OH 43351

Zephaniah 1:7, 12–18; Psalm 90:1–12; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11; Matthew 25:14–30

 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

         By now you are away that our consecration weekend is one week away.  Today, it is my turn to share with you my thoughts about stewardship, especially in regards to financial stewardship.  To me, this is a privilege.  It is a privilege, and a pleasure, to share with you what I understand stewardship to be, and specifically financial stewardship.  I know that talking about money makes many folks uncomfortable, but I also know that Jesus spoke about money more than anything else, except for the kingdom of heaven.  I’m in good company.  I also know that right now, we are all being affected by the current stress in the    U. S. economy, and I’ll address that, too.

First, let’s clarify a few terms:  Percentage Giving refers to the giving of a percentage of one’s income - 1%, 2% 10%.  Pre-tax or after tax?  That’s a personal call, I think.  Charts were distributed last week with percentage information on it, and there are extras available at the back.  Tithing refers to the specific giving of 10% of income.  First-fruits giving is a biblical concept for giving the first 10% of one’s harvest to God.

I recently came across an article I presented to our congregational council in 2002 regarding financial stewardship.  I won’t repeat the entire article here, but in it I shared my own stewardship story.  I’d like to share that with you today: 

In my childhood congregation, at the beginning of each year, every child received a set of offering envelopes when his or her parents received their offering envelopes.  My parents gave each of us children a coin to put in the Sunday School offering, and a coin to put in our envelopes for worship.  Once we began receiving allowances we were expected to put a portion of our own money in the envelope each week.  How much was never mentioned because the concept of percentage giving or tithing was not part of our experience.  But consistent giving was expected.  That is we were taught to give on a weekly basis.

When Stuart and I married I learned that he was also a consistent giver, and like me, did not have much concept of tithing.  We gave our regular offering once a month, but always placed a few dollars in the offering plates each Sunday, maybe out of guilt?  Still, the words tithing, and percentage giving were not in our vocabulary.

Once I entered seminary, I began to hear conversations about tithing and percentage giving.  Looking at our own resources Stu and I were convinced we couldn’t do it.  We wrote our offering checks last, after we had paid all our bills, and could not how see we could even increase our giving 1% not to mention 10%.  The stewardship campaigns in our congregation in Columbus did not have an emphasis on personal growth giving, or the spiritual connection to giving, but instead on meeting the budget.  While that is a reason for giving, it isn’t the best one, by far.

However, once I was ordained, it became clear to me that if I expected others to grow in their giving habits, I would need to be a leader by being intentional in my own personal giving habits.  Stuart and I decided to give on a weekly basis. Although we were still writing our church checks after paying the bills, we were giving each week what we had once been giving monthly.  We thought we were being very generous.  It wasn’t until St. Mark’s did a stewardship campaign of its own and we “did the math” that we realized how little a percentage of our income we were giving.  Although it was above the 2% average, it was still below 5% of our annual income.

Under the guidance of Pastor Gene Grimm, our ELCA Stewardship Leader, Stuart and I, along with many others, came to see how important to our spiritual lives it was that we make our gifts to God out of our first fruits, and we worked to become tithers, that is, we wanted to move towards giving 10% of our income to the church, mostly through our local congregation, but also directly to the larger church or other charitable organizations. 

Our first step towards doing this was to change the order in which we wrote our checks.  We began to write our offering checks first after we were paid, before we paid the bills.  And something interesting happened.  Where we had once been struggling to keep ourselves afloat financially, we were now doing better at making ends meet.  While we rarely had more money than month, we were actually making it to the end of a pay period without stressing out over finances.  Over time, we worked up to giving 9% of our income to the church for current operating and benevolence and another 1-2% directly to special projects and other charitable organizations.

We have continued on that track as much as  possible.  We strive to be consistent givers, first fruit givers, and percentage givers, if not tithers.  For any of you who are self-employed you know that this is not always easy.  Stuart’s income can fluctuate, but being a percentage giver, that means we are less tied to a particular amount as we to a percentage of our income.  College tuition, and a few other unexpected expenses have forced us to revisit how much we are able to give.  The Bible does not say “give until it hurts,” but it does say that God loves a cheerful giver.  So, I aim to be a cheerful giver.That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!

As I reviewed my story, it occurred to me that it might sound as if I’m doing all of this out of “duty”.  There is a sense of “duty” in it, I agree.  But that is low on my list of reasons to be a consistent, first-fruit, percentage giver.  My primary reason for giving is out of gratitude to God.  Returning to God a portion of what God has given me to use is one way that I can thank God for the many gifts I have.  And, it makes me feel closer to God  There is a spiritual connection with God that I wouldn’t have if I didn’t give. And, I want to help this congregation be the best that it can be.  My gifts alone won’t cut it, but when we add all of our gifts together -- it is amazing what we can do.

So… where’s the gospel in all of this?  Well, here’s the good news:  because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, each of us is free to give whatever, whenever, and however we choose.  Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are free to choose how we respond to the amazing gifts that God has given us.  God has made us to be stewards of creation, but it is up to us how we approach that. 

Remember the three servants in the parable I read earlier?  Each of them were given talents, money, according to their ability.  The master did not give them more than he knew they each could manage.  The first two servants took advantage of this trust and invested accordingly.  They were invited to share in the joy of the master. 

The third servant had the ability to act.  It does not say he was given too much.  But he was afraid.  He allowed his fear to overtake him, and he refused to do anything with his portion.  It didn’t go so well for him.

Financially, this is a scary time for our nation.  We all know people who have lost jobs, and we might even be some of those people.    We all know how spiking fuel prices, along with business closings, ups and downs in the stock markets, and problems with the economy in general have forced us to rethink our spending habits.  It can be very frightening.  But it is not a time to be afraid, or to act out of fear.

This is why I think it is all the more important that we take time for a thoughtful examination of our giving practices.  When we look over our personal financial situations, and prayerfully ask, “What percentage of my income does God want me to give?”, it allows us the opportunity to be confident that we are giving by our God-given ability. It chases away the fear and allows us to give cheerfully.

Some folks will say, “I’ve been thinking about tithing for several years, and I want to begin that spiritual journey this year.”

Others will say, “eventually, I want to begin tithing but I am not ready to do that this year.  I feel God is calling me to start somewhere -- to drive my tent pegs in the ground at 4, 5 or 6 %  knowing that God will bless that decision by helping me to increase my giving in coming years.”

Still others have been tithing for many years.  For them, it may be time to ask if God is inviting them to increase beyond that.  There isn’t any rule that says you have to stop at 10%. 

Next weekend you will be presented with a card onto which you may indicate your intent for giving for the next year.  That information will help us with our budget plans.  However, you are free to write on your card, “I will give as the Lord blesses me.”  The purpose of consecration weekend is for each and everyone of us to make an intentional decision about our giving plans for the next 12 months.  It is an opportunity for us to draw closer to God.    I know that each of us will be praying for God’s guidance as we prepare to answer the spiritual question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?” 

          The answer we each receive will be according to our own ability.  Amen

Dave Wolf's Sermon November 9, 2008: 

Oh God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that  by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolations, through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 Do you hear that? _________ That’s right, it’s quiet.  The sound of the long political season has ended.  The wrangling we have had to endure, what like seems forever has finally ended.  It’s quiet today but tomorrow I bet someone, somewhere is ramping up for the 2010 elections.  Just think of the time and money that has been spent in the last 4 years to get to last Tuesday.  Good stewardship?  I don’t think so.  If we could only channel that magnitude of energy and resources towards the hungry and homeless, the sick and needy, we might begin to solve some of the world’s problems.  Seems hopeless doesn’t it?  In Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, he is comforting us and telling us that God wants to be with us forever.  Christ will return, and gather His believers in Him, both the dead and living, and take us all in heaven.  We are to grieve, but grieve as believers do.  Paul ends the passage, “encourage one another with these words”.  Encourage one another with the promises of hope.  The hope Paul writes about is not hope in an earthly mortal sense.  We say hope a lot.  We often hope that the weather stays nice, or we hope that the economy gets better or even we hope that Ohio State can win a bowl game.  We might even hope that this sermon is not too long!

No my brothers and sisters, Paul is speaking of a real hope.  A hope rich in glory.  The hope that because Jesus Christ died for us that He will return and gather all of us believers in him along with all of the “saints” that preceded us in death and take us to  heaven to be with him forever…..forever…..forever……

 Forever is a long time.  If you’re like me, my limited mind has a tough time grasping exactly what forever would be like.  I know I can’t fully comprehend how beautiful and wonderful it will be when we experience heaven.  Just imagine, being in the presence and glory of God, who has no beginning and no end, the God of pure love, the Holy of Holy.  WOW!  Breathtaking.  That is so much more than I use to think heaven was.  I use to imagine that when I died, and if I was good, I would go to heaven and find the best parts of Earth there.  I anticipated a big family reunion in the sky.  I would be 18 again, with a full head of hair of  course. I would play golf all day and always shoot an 18, but what would be the fun in that when everybody in heaven shot an 18.  I was missing the timeless beauty and the majesty of it all.  For you see, I was leaving Christ out.  It’s only through Him that I can get there (heaven).  And it’s only because of Him that I will be apart of God’s Holy kingdom.  And it’s only with Christ that I will see the Glory of God.  “…and this is grace, an invitation to be beautiful.”

Now when Paul was writing his letter to the Thessalonians he believed that Christ’s second coming was going to occur in his life-time.  Although it didn’t happen 2000 years ago doesn’t mean that Christ won’t return today…tomorrow…or in the future.  The point is, He will return.  Why, because he said so.   Dietrich Bonhoeffer believed it.   He believed so much in the death and resurrection of our Lord that in 1945 while facing certain death he comforted those around him calmly, peacefully, and serenely with the love of Christ.  He became an inspiration to his fellow prisoners as well as to some of his captors.  He was at peace with himself and with God in the face of his mortal death.  He was at peace because he believed that death on Earth is not the end but only the beginning.  He would not let the trials and tribulations, even to the extent of his apparent execution, damper his spirit.  I believe that at that time and at that place Bonhoeffer radiated the brilliant light of Jesus for those around him.  He was the beacon on the hill for those prisoners in that dark terrible prison.  I love that image.  It reminds me of when a dark, pitch black closet has its door opened to a bright lit room how the light always illuminates into the closet.  The light goes in; the dark is destroyed and never comes out to darken the room.  Christ is like that.  Wherever He goes his light destroys the dark.

So what does God want from us?

First, As the gospel lesson read we need to be prepared and ready to go when Christ returns.  The most important thing to remember is to be there and ready.  The virgins who missed the feast into heaven were not only not ready with their lamps full of oil, the fact is they weren’t even there when Christ returned.  We need to be ready by doing the next right thing everyday. For us the next right thing could be mentoring a child at school, calling and visiting a sick friend, get involved with a charitable volunteer organization.  The next right thing could be as simple as appreciating your job, your church or your family “warts and all” More importantly we need to be there, believing in His return.  

Second, We can worship together as brothers and sisters and encourage one another with the Good News.

Third, We can live in joy, even in the face of death and uncertainty; knowing that everything will be taken care of. 

Finally, We can be the light of Christ to help comfort all of God’s children who are in need and help light the path to salvation because of His death and resurrection.  

May the grace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Amen

TWENTY-SECOND WEEKEND AFTER PENTECOST; 2008, LECTIONARY 28A

Preached at Good Hope Lutheran, Bucyrus

Isaiah 25:1–9; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:1–9; Matthew 22:1–14

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

 It’s that time of year, again, my friends.  It’s that time of year when we find ourselves debating who is the best in the nation.  We begin to look for reasons to take particular sides and we scorn the ones who support the opposition.  I’m talking about the World Series.  You didn’t think I was talking about the elections, did you?

When I think of the World Series, I remember that baseball great, Jeff Maier?  You don’t recognize his name?  He was quite the star in 1996 at Yankee Stadium during game 1 of the American League Division series for the playoffs.  What he did left many folks stunned and others furious.  Some felt cheated, and others were greatly impressed.

He’s the twelve year old who attempted to catch a ball while it was still in play and may have affected who won the division and who played in the world series that year. 

I recall personally not being terribly bothered one way or the other, when it happened.  It was professional baseball for Pete’s sake,  a game, not a life altering event, as far as I was concerned.  However, when I attended my weekly Bible Study with my colleagues later that week, I learned just how important that was, to some folks. 

One pastor, a Detroit Tigers fan, was especially upset.  He observed that Jeff Maier should have been kicked out of the ball park because, not only did he interfere with a ball while in active play, he also reached out over the edge to attempt to catch it, and he was not in a seat, but standing in a walkway where loitering is prohibited, and in addition, he was playing hooky from school to be at the game.   But, instead of being reprimanded, Jeff was made a hero.  According to my friend, the only justice of the whole event was that Jeff did not succeed in catching the ball!

Now, I may not know much about baseball, but, I tend to agree with him that Jeff Maier may have been given just a bit too much of the wrong kind of attention by the press and Yankee fans everywhere.  It would have been nice to have heard that he was “busted” for skipping school, too.

I suspect many others were bothered by the injustice of the situation.  How could such bad behavior be rewarded?  Why didn’t he get into trouble? 

However, since that day, I have wondered if what we have witnessed could be interpreted in a different way as well.  I have often thought that what we saw that day was a modern parable of what the kingdom of heaven could be like.  Consider what Jesus might have said if He were telling a Parable today: 

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a young boy who skips school to attend a baseball game, interrupts the play, should be in BIG trouble, but instead is given better seats for the next game.”

Although it was probably  the furthest thing from his mind, Jeff Maier has demonstrated to us a truth about God’s grace.  We learn, you may not get what you deserve -- thank God for that! 

Or, what about the man who walked into a church in Stockholm.  He noticed a coffin lying in state, but no one around appeared to be mourning the dead.  So he said a prayer on behalf of the dead man, signed his name in the otherwise blank registry, and left.  One week later he is informed that he is the sole recipient of the dead’ man’s estate - worth a million dollars:  the will directed the executor to distribute the estate to those who prayed for his soul.

Well then, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a man who receives one million dollars for doing no more than any caring person would do on behalf of another.  We learn, God’s grace is unconditional and overabundant. 

One of my favorite parables in Matthew’s gospel is today’s gospel lesson.  I don’t know about you, but I can certainly relate to the invited guests.  This coming Saturday our family has been invited to a wedding.  Actually, we were invited to two weddings, both extended family.  Not only did we have to choose between which wedding to attend, we also had to make arrangements to be gone from our usual tasks.  How easy it would have been to say that we had other commitments and couldn’t attend either one!

We all know what it is like to have too many demands made on our time.  Sometimes the greatest opportunities seem more like an interruption than a privilege, only because we know that we will have to rearrange our schedules to squeeze this one more thing in.  Or, sometimes something unexpected occurs and forces us to rearrange our plans, whether or not we want to do so.

Surely we can relate to the invited ones in the parable who felt that they could make better uses of their time than attend a wedding banquet for the king’s son -- never mind that it was political suicide to say no to the king.  

As we might imagine, this invitation was not without a time limit.  Although the king was eager to fill his banquet hall, he was not going to wait for the invited guests to decide to show up.  Maybe we are supposed to remember that even with grace, which is free for us, there comes a time when the offer will cease to be there? 

This scene reminds me of the time when my high school English teacher, Mr. Kraus, promised us extra points if we attended the school play.  All we had to do was make sure he saw us at the play and he would mark us present in his grade book.  An easy way to earn some extra credit.   But, when the next school play came along, and we asked about extra points, Mr. Kraus said,, “No-- that was a one time offer.  If you didn’t take advantage of it at the first play, too bad.”  There was no second chance for anyone who missed the opportunity before. 

So… the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who has plenty of good gifts to share with his people.  When they refuse the gifts, the king simply goes and finds others who will accept his gifts, whether or not they deserve them.

An that’s why I like this parable.  Because we are the ungrateful people who refuse to receive God’s gracious love in our lives.  We are the people who can find 101 reasons for not coming to God’s party.  We are the people who are just as likely as not to avoid making room for God in our busy schedules.

At the same time, we are also the people most in need of God’s grace.  We are the people who desire to be brought into God’s arms and given a place to rest.  We are the people, the bad and the good, who are ready at a moment’s notice to respond to an unexpected invitation, whether or not it really fits into our schedules. In fact, some of us do better with the last minute announcement than the one requiring much planning!

Remember Dr. Seuss’ book, “Go, Dog, Go!”?  I love that story.  The funny looking dogs, the way some of them fight with each other.  The way others seem eager to get to wherever they are going.  And then, the grand conclusion.  They arrive at the foot of a huge tree, with a ladder leading the way to the very top.  What’s at the other end of that ladder is a great mystery, until you climb it.  And then you learn the truth -- it’s a dog party.  A great big dog party. 

I have often pictured the kingdom of heaven to be a bit like that.  A great big mystery until you finally arrive.  And then you find out that it’s bigger and grander than anything you could have ever imagined.  And no one is turned away.

Well, almost no one.  Jesus tells us in his parable about the great feast that some people might actually choose to be put out of the kingdom, if you can imagine that.  Remember the guest who refused to wear the wedding robe?  The invitation to come was given to all.  Maybe many are called, but some refuse to be chosen? 

I can’t imagine anyone refusing an invitation into God’s kingdom, can you?  However, when that question was raised at a clergywomen’s gathering, one pastor there said that her father would refuse such an invitation.  He would choose not to be at Jesus’ wedding banquet.  Imagine.

As for that fellow in Jesus’ parable, I really don’t know what to say.  I don’t know for sure what it is that Jesus meant when he said that many are called, but few are chosen. 

But this much I do know:  the good news is that  because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, God invites us all to come to His great and promised feast.  Even more, He sends us forth to make disciples of all nations, so that they too might hear that invitation to come.  What a party that will be!!!

We give thanks to God that He has chosen us, and may we strive to proclaim that good news in all we do and say  Amen. 

TWENTY-FIRST WEEKEND AFTER PENTECOST, 2008, LECTIONARY 27A

First Evangelical Lutheran, Upper Sandusky

Isaiah 5:1–7; Psalm 80:7–15; Philippians 3:4b–14; Matthew 21:33–46

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more:  ⁵circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;  ⁶as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

 ⁷Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ.  ⁸More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Boy.  That Paul sure liked to write about himself, didn’t he?  He comes across with having quite the ego.  I can appreciate why so many people find him annoying, if not just a bit boastful.  And yet.  And yet, I have noticed that Paul rarely lifts up his own credentials in order to impress others about himself.  Paul usually has one point, and one point only when he talks about his most excellent past.  His point is always Christ Jesus, specifically, Christ crucified.  Plus, I think that one would have to have a healthy sense of self-awareness to face the sorts of challenges and persecutions that Paul faced. 

Once again, Paul tells us how unimportant his credentials are.  Paul has pooh-poohed his past life before.  But, this time, Paul has brought up a comparison which may have even managed to shock his Greek audience.  It would certainly shock us if our New Revised Standard translators hadn’t sanitized it. 

I’m talking about that word “rubbish”.  Paul says that all of his credentials were like so much rubbish.  Now, maybe it’s because I used to enjoy reading Gothic Romance novels, but when I hear the word rubbish, I don’t see what the big deal is.  I tend to think of “poppycock” and “fiddlesticks.” -- words which hardly create shock.  I have an image of a pile of wadded up papers waiting to be thrown away.  Nothing too messy, just something to be tossed out.  It just doesn’t reflect the impact which Paul wants us to grasp about how unimportant, how worthless, his own efforts have been.

This word rubbish comes from a Greek word which is found only in this passage the Bible.  A different Greek word is used elsewhere for rubbish.  But here, we have a word which, as I said, our New Revised Standard translators apparently thought would offend our ears, should it be read in church.  The King James Version wasn’t afraid to use it.  But apparently we who live in the 21^st century might be offended. 

I’m going to teach you the Greek word, because it is an awesome word to use when you want to cuss, but you know you’d be in trouble if you did it in English.  The word is “skubala”.  It means dung.  Specifically dog dung.  If I were to use its more crude English four letter word, I’d be offended.  And, my mother would probably pop up straight from Greenville and wash my mouth out with soap! 

When Paul declared that he considered all his credentials nothing more than “skubala” he was seeking the harshest comparison he could think of.  He was looking for something which would grab their attention and make them realize how absolutely worthless it was to believe that they could bring themselves up by their own sandal straps.  Nothing which Paul, or any of the Philippians had  done would make them worthy of God’s righteousness.  For that matter, nothing any of us have done in our own lives can make us worthy of this same righteousness. 

I was thinking about this idea of our own worth.  I was wondering if we could even comprehend what it might be like to have everything, and yet have nothing.  Or, to lose it all.  I thought about the people who fled the water and winds of Hurricane Ike.  Can you imagine what it must have been like for them to leave almost everything they own behind, drive away from it, and then, upon returning find it all gone?  Imagine what it might have been like to come up to your door, and think, well, the house is still standing, that’s a good sign, only to open the door and discover the back wall is gone?  Or, to learn that you don’t dare touch any of your belongings because they sat in water too long and now the mold has made them toxic?  It might as well be “skubala.” 

When Paul learned about the good news of Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection, his forgiveness of our sins, and the promise of life with Him, all Paul could think was that everything he had ever had, anything he had ever done, might as well have been destroyed by fire, wind, or water.  It was nothing compared to the marvelous gift of Jesus.  He just couldn’t find enough ways to let us know about this amazing gift of grace.  He wasn’t above using the most rude, crude, and socially unacceptable example he could think of, either.

So, what is this to us?  How do we see our own lives in light of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?  Do we claim our own efforts as the most important thing about who we are?  Do we look at our own accomplishments, or at those of others in comparison, and think, I’m not so bad?  Do we still think that there is something we have to do in order to make sure we make it into God’s glorious kingdom? 

The ending of this passage from Paul might make us think that we have to do something: I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.  Aha! We might think.  There is something we have to do.  But look at verse 12.  Why does Paul press on?  Paul presses on because Christ Jesus has made him his own.  Paul presses on because Jesus has already snatched him away from the jaws of death, and claimed him for His own.  Paul presses on because he wants to make sure everyone else knows of this amazing claim which Jesus has upon Him. 

And, on us, too.  Jesus has already claimed us for his own.  So we press on, until the final day when Jesus comes as King of all, knowing that the goal, the prize is ours already.

Jesus says to us, “Do not be afraid.  You are mine.  I have claimed you, I have named you, and I will not let you go.  You can press on towards the goal, knowing that the prize is yours, already.” 

Today we will be hold in our hands this holy assurance in the bread and wine, Christ’s Body and Blood.  And then, may we leave here, ready to press on. 

May all of God’s people say:  Amen. 

TWENTIETH WEEKEND AFTER PENTECOST, 2008; LECTIONARY 26A

First Evangelical Lutheran, Upper Sandusky

Ezekiel 18:1–4, 25–32;Psalm 25:1–9; Philippians 2:1–13;  Matthew 21:23–32

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen. 

St. Paul tells us:  Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

Last week I wondered aloud, as we were discerning the will of God in our preparation to vote, if the will of God had less to do with whether we voted yes, or no, and more to do with whether or not we would stand firm in one spirit after the vote was taken and the results announced, regardless of it being a yes, or a no.  Would we strive side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel? 

Well, my brothers and sisters in Christ, now is the time to test out that wondering.  Now is the time to learn whether or not we are able to stand firm, to be united behind the decision of the vote, regardless of its outcome, regardless of what we individually may have wanted to happen. 

I think that God helped us with the timing of this process so that we would be able to hear these words from Paul’s letters to the Philippians just as we begin to watch our new Cooperative Ministry Board begin to takes its first baby steps towards strengthening our partnership with St. Paul and North Salem.  Pastor Andrea will facilitate this process. 

Today’s passage from Paul’s letter to the Philippians continues to lift up the call to be of one mind, the mind of Christ.  It would be wise to keep in mind that Paul is not suggesting that we set aside our own selves, even as he calls for us to be of the same mind.  Remember how often Paul referred to his own actions in relationship to the gospel.  He was certainly not shy about tooting his own horn.  At the same time, Paul always brought his boasting back to the cross.  Everything Paul did was so that others could see his good works and glorify God in heaven.  Paul’s mind was set on Christ.

While we might not be comfortable boasting quite like Paul did, we can make sure that in whatever we do, we bear witness to the power of Christ in our lives.  Many people are able to present themselves with a good impression to others.  They can go out of their way to make others feel at home, to tend to their needs, to love others, and to make others feel important.  But in the end, their goal might be to make themselves look good, so that they can “get something out of it”. 

Paul urges us to do these same sorts of things:  loving others, tending to the needs, of others, etc., but for the sake of those others, and at the heart of it all, because of what Jesus did for us.  Jesus loved us enough to come to us, to serve us, and to die for us so that we could be one with the Father just as he is one with the Father.

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,  Paul says.  And then he moves into a beautiful hymn which tells us the story of Jesus life, death, and resurrection.  It reminds us that Jesus made a sweet exchange for us, dying so that we might live.  This alone ought to make us not only eager to be obedient to God, but also to be witnesses in our world to what Christ has done. 

Reading the headlines of the newspapers these past few days has made me realize that it is not just the Church which needs this unity, this same mindedness.  As we teeter on the edge of financial uncertainty, we would like to see our government leaders step away from their political egos for a few moments and become united in one mind.  Regardless of what we may think about how we got to where we are now, regardless of who might be to blame, it would be wonderful for them to find some common ground, so that some decisions can be made, and some actions taken.  My guess is that our leaders agree on almost everything regarding our nation’s financial matters, but it is those few differences which are making it hard to stand firm, together.

Let us pray for them as they pursue solutions to a rather complicated matter, at least it seems complicated to me, and that we won’t be like the children of Ezekiel’s proverb, with our teeth set on edge because of the mistakes made by others, in the past and now. 

While I’m on the topic of politics, maybe some of you saw the item in the news that announced that September 28 was the day for which a religious organization The Alliance Defense Fund recruited pastors to publicly support or oppose political candidates.  The alliance wants to challenge the law which prevents tax-exempt organizations from promoting particular candidates.  As I look out over this congregation, I would guess that there are enough different political views among us, that if I were to promote a particular candidate, it would create more division than unity. 

And it begs the questions -- Where’s the gospel?  Where’s the cross?  Where’s the good news about Jesus Christ?  If telling you who to support in an election would bring us together in the one mind that was in Christ Jesus, you can be sure that there would be more than 56 pastors agreeing to challenge the laws on tax exemption. 

This is not to say that church members ought to stay out of the political arena.  From the time of Martin Luther, our evangelical tradition has encouraged participation in government and politics.  Luther understood that some were called to serve politically just as others were called to serve in the leadership of the church.  The Hymn, We are Called, certainly points to such a call.  But politics always takes a second seat in the church to the proclamation of the gospel, and especially in worship.   OK, I’ll get off my soapbox!

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. 

What else is there to say?  To borrow from one of my professors who preached the shortest sermon in seminary history:  Paul has told us what was in the mind of Christ Jesus -- now, get out there and do it.  Amen. 

HOLY CROSS, 2008

First Evangelical Lutheran, Upper Sandusky, OH 43351

Numbers 21:4b–9; Psalm 98:1–4; 1 Corinthians 1:18–24; John 3:13–17

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Why are we here?  I don’t mean, why are we on the planet earth; or, why are we citizens of the United States of America, as opposed to a third world nation.  What I mean is, why are we here, in this place, at this time?  What is it that makes this place so important to us that we take time out of our other duties to be here?  Why would we pause here before we head out to the fairgrounds, to the midget football games, the soccer fields, or to wherever else we might go? 

If we just wanted to get together for fun, we could choose another location, with more comfortable seats.  If we were getting together just for fun, would we be getting together?  Or, would we choose a different sort of people to be with?  If we were just getting together for the purpose of helping others, we could join one of the many service organizations in town. 

So, why are we here?  In this place?  At this time? 

I hope that the answer is so obvious to us that you are wondering why I even had to ask!  Why are we here?  To worship God, of course.  If we receive any other benefits from this place, that is all the better, but we are here to worship God.  Why in this place?  It has been designated, set apart, made holy,  as a specific place for the people of Christ; a place to gather for the purpose of worship.  Why at this time?  Because it helps us beat the crowd to Bob Evans!  The time is probably the most flexible part of this equation, although changing it could lead to the most resistance!

It’s interesting to note that even these reasons fore being here do not limit us to this place.  You may have heard me say, in the past, that I don’t like leaving a worship building empty on a Sunday morning, for any reason.  My colleagues have rightly pointed out that this is “just” a building, and that the church is wherever the people gather to worship God in Christ Jesus.  We could be the people of God gathered anywhere for worship.  We could meet at any time of day or night and be the people of God at worship.  We have discovered that the church is wherever the people of God are.    Saturday evening/ Sunday morning -- here is one place  We found 176 people gathered for worship at North Salem on August 31. And on Monday morning, the church will be on the move, wherever the people of God are, doing service for God in Christ’s name.

Even more, when we gather here in this place we are more than just a gathering of people.  We are people who have some particular things in common -- not the color of our eyes or our skin, not the number of legs we use for walking, nor the clothes we wear.  The things we have in common are the cross of Christ Jesus, the love of God for us, and our love for God.  I’m sure you could name a few additional things, but for now these will do!

We are gathered here because we confess that the death of Jesus, on the cross, has made all the difference in the world for us.  We are gathered here because we want to let others know that we view the world differently because, for us, Jesus is Lord.  And yet, we have to be careful folks.  We have to be careful that in our enthusiastic efforts to proclaim the good news we don’t find ourselves looking down our noses at others.  How easy it is to say, “I get it, and you don’t.”  I am saved, and you are condemned.” 

Remember what our gospel reading for today declares:   ¹⁶For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. ¹⁷Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Yes, it is important to remember that we are called to believe in Jesus, but it is God’s desire that the world might be saved through this same Jesus.  It is our privilege to tell others about this most excellent news!

You may have noticed an emphasis on the Cross today.  Someone asked me why we seemed to be in the middle of Lent.  Well, today is Holy Cross Day.  This is the day of the church year on which we lift up the cross, in order to remember what it is that God did for us, and to point others to it so that we might all be saved.  I really like the fact that we have that humongous cross standing out in front of this building.  There should never be any doubt in anyone’s mind that this is a place in which Christians gather and Christ is worshiped. 

I asked a couple people if they knew the history of that cross out front.  I wondered if it had been a part of the original plans, or if the members had added it later.  Of those I asked, the response was pretty much the same:  it was always there.  Apparently it was part of the original plans, much as The Cross was part of God’s original plan?  I thought that was pretty neat.

A friend of mine (now deceased), Charlie Lundt was one of the crankiest pastors I ever knew.  He was always on the lookout for mistakes in what his colleagues wrote, in how we spoke, and in what we said we believed.  He especially didn’t have anything good to say about Holy Cross Day, or the cross in general.

When we pressed him for an explanation, he said that the Bible clearly states that we are not to make graven images of God, nor are we to worship idols.  He was convinced that the church had turned the cross into an idol, and that we spent more time admiring the cross than we did Jesus.  As evidence he pointed to the fancy pectoral crosses many pastors wear, and the cross necklaces worn by many people, most who - in his opinion - didn’t even know what happened on the cross.  You’ve heard the joke about the woman shopping for a necklace for a friend, admired the cross, except for that little man on it?  That’s what Pastor Charlie was thinking about.

We pastors had to agree that he had some good points.  And yet, we argued that: exalting the cross of Jesus was not the same as worshipping it; placing crosses in or on our buildings was not the same as making graven images; seeing people wearing the cross in ignorance might be worth the chance to get the cross out into the world for all to see, although we thought we might be stretching it on that last point. 

It was once said, We are invited to look upon the Cross. It is the “privileged place”  where the love of God is revealed … On the Cross, human misery and divine mercy meet. the Cross is planted in the earth and would seem to extend its roots in human malice, but it reaches up, pointing as it were to the heavens, pointing to the goodness of God. By means of the Cross of Christ, the Evil One has been defeated, death is overcome, life is given to us, hope is restored, light is imparted. * (John Paul II, September 14, 2003)

We are here to worship God.  We are here to remember the Cross and what happened upon it once upon a time.  We are here so that we can go out into the world, standing in the shadow of the cross, ready to tell the world what God has done for all people.  May God bless us and empower us for this most wonderful privilege.  Amen. 

SEVENTEENTH WEEKEND AFTER PENTECOST, 2008, LECTIONARY 23A

FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN, UPPER SANDUSKY

Ezekiel 33:7–11; Psalm 119:33–40; Romans 13:8–14; Matthew 18:15–20

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

“If you keep backing away because you’re afraid of what might happen to you -- and you keep backing away and backing away -- what you were afraid of in the first place is going to happen to you.”

Those words, a quote from Senator John McCain’s father, jumped off the page at me as I skimmed the article in Newsweek.  They sounded a great deal like words Bishop Lohrmann has used (I’m paraphrasing), “if you walk away from a source of conflict, the situation can grow worse.  If you walk towards the conflict, it can lose its power.”   

In other words, ignoring a problem with another person doesn’t make it go away.  Moving away from a problem with another person doesn’t make the problem smaller.  Even more, ignoring the problem can cause trouble with your relationship with another.  To paraphrase Admiral McCain:  If you ignore dealing with the problem because you’re afraid of what might happen in your relationship, in the end that is exactly what does happen. 

Both of those quotes sounded a bit as if their authors had read Matthew 18:  If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault…

There’s more to what Jesus had to say, of course, but it all hinges on our willingness to walk towards the problem… toward the conflict… towards the broken relationship. 

The fact that Jesus had to say this makes us realize that just because we are the body of Christ does not mean that we are going to be perfect.  We are, after all, humans, living under the shadow of original sin.  We tend to say and do things which are not always acceptable.  And Jesus knows that if we do not face those times of sin, we are destined to make matters worse, not better.

This all was made quite clear to us a year and a half ago when many relationships in this place seemed to be on edge.  Rather than take Jesus’ advice, and follow his recommendations, all sorts of other solutions were tried, and we saw how well those worked.    Even Thumper’s advice -- if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all -- didn’t work.  In fact, that can make matters worse because saying nothing implies that nothing is wrong.  (Now Thumper’s advice might work in a secular situation apart from community, but not in the church.)

Over these past months I’ve learned a lot about living out these words from Matthew 18.  I’ve learned that sometimes it seems to be the hardest thing to do.  Anger and fear can make it all the more difficult to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and speak the truth in love.  I’ve learned that more often than not, a conversation I’ve been  dreading turns out to be the beginning of better things.  I’ve learned that sometimes I would prefer to run and hide rather than go and talk, but the talking turns out to be easier than the hiding.  I’ve also learned that one can only enter into a conversation when others are willing to enter into it as well, if only reluctantly.  If someone chooses to walk away, literally or figuratively, there is no easy way to proceed. 

One scholar has observed that, One of the reasons our divisive issues are so difficult to resolve today is that both sides of key issues seek to use Jesus' pattern to reconcile themselves to others . In other words, people on any side of an issue can find a number of brothers and sisters from the church to bring along in making their case.  It is not simply a matter of noting which side the church is on and making judgments accordingly.  We cannot tell which side is the true church in many discussions.  All sides would insist that it is their side. And, in fact, they are more or less correct. Division in the church means that one part of the body of Christ disagrees with another part of the same body. Dissension is the natural result of human interaction. The church is very human in this regard.  (Clayton Schmit)

It is true that more often than not, we agree on more than we disagree, but it can be the few disagreements which tear us apart.  I was impressed to hear John McCain make note that he and Barack Obama do agree on many matters.  But, we all know it is those few areas of difference which be the source of debate in the next 59 days, days; 1427 hours; 85621 minutes; 5137283 seconds, and counting.  (as of Saturday morning)

None of us want to have dissension in our lives.  But, the reality is that we have it.  Maybe if we learn to expect dissension, heck, maybe if we learn to expect sin, we will be more likely to meet it head on, and follow through on Jesus’ instructions?  I think so.  One of the marks of healthy congregations is not that they have no conflict but that they don’t allow conflict to control them.  They know how to handle sinful situations. 

You may be aware that Pastor Andrea is trained to work with unhealthy congregations and to train parishioners to respond in healthy manners to conflict.  She has mentioned to me that she finds us to be a very courageous group of people, having chosen to work on the hard things put before us, and having found better and healthier ways to respond to sinful situations.  Our council just recently talked a bit about what has happened this past year, and we agree that we are a healthier place.  Not a perfect place.  But we are certainly better equipped to respond, rather then react, to challenges set before us. 

That is worth celebrating because, as we know, we are on the verge of voting on a major change in the way we do ministry together.  We’ve had quite a few folks work very hard on this proposal to form a cooperative with North Salem and St. Paul.  I know that regardless of the vote’s outcome there is going to be a rise in anxiety.  Because we have done the hard work this past year, we can be assured that we can face whatever comes as a community of believers, together.

I will add that I plan to vote for this proposal not because I have a survivalist’s mentality, but because I have an adventurer’s interest.  The study group’s excitement has sparked my excitement in discovering other ways by which we can be the Body Christ besides the tried and true methods.  It isn’t that they aren’t working, but it is time to tweak them. 

 We can do this not just because we have learned some better ways of communicating, however.  We can do this because Jesus has promised to be among us!  It’s no accident that Jesus has included these promises about agreement and his presence among those who call upon his name with a teaching on reconciliation.  Jesus certainly is with us in all times and places, but he has a special desire for us to work out our disagreements, and seek to be in relationship with each other, just as we are already in relationship with him. 

One place where we can be assured of our relationship with Jesus is here at this table, where we will soon share in His Supper. Here in this place we are assured of our forgiveness of sins, and we are provided bread for the journey --a journey which includes walking towards each other, seeking reconciliation where needed, and unity in one Body.  Amen.