Welcomed as God's Children-- sermon from 9-13-20

Here is the sermon from 9-13-20: "Welcomed as God's Children".  

For the first time due to our travel arrangements, I recorded two sermons in one week.  That was a challenge.

Preaching is life-giving to me, though preaching in pandemic, in an empty sanctuary is a bit different.  The Holy Spirit continues to show up, though, so that is what keeps me going.

Peace, 

Rev. Deb

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Welcomed As God’s Children” 

Romans 14:1-12 (NRSV)

September 13, 2020 (15^th Sunday after Pentecost)

St. Elmo UMC (FB Live)

 

Romans 14:1-12 (NRSV-New Revised Standard Version)

 

Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. ² Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. ³ Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. ⁴ Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

⁵ Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. ⁶ Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.

⁷ We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. ⁸ If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. ⁹ For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

¹⁰ Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. ¹¹ For it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
    and every tongue shall give praise to God.”

¹² So then, each of us will be accountable to God.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIS IS THE WORD OF LIFE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE.

THANKS BE TO GOD.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the past several weeks the focus on the messages have been “Unity”, “Life Instructions” (based on love), “Live Love”.  Prior to that, messages of “No Condemnation”….

When you look back, do you get the feeling that God has been trying to get a point across?

Maybe it just seems like a random pattern of dots to you.  Sometimes it does to me too.

However, I’m seeing a pattern and at the core of it is God’s love for you, for me.

Today’s title comes from verse 3 primarily where it says that God has welcomed them.  God has welcomed whom?  God has welcomed those who eat and those who abstain from eating.  For all are God’s children. 

The first word in today’s passage is “welcome”.  We are to welcome others.  We are not to judge others by what they do or don’t do.  We all recognize that this is easier said than done, especially when we are in a family unit or a faith community.  Sometimes the closer we become, the more difficult it becomes to judge less.  Our welcome mats get worn out and we become more fussy or picky.

Maybe, just maybe it would be good for us to stockpile some welcome mats so that when ours becomes slightly torn or tattered, we can replace it immediately with a fresh one.  It’s a thought.  It’s also an analogy.

What today’s passage allows us to think about is that we have differences.  We have differences of opinions, different ways of doing things, different backgrounds, different upbringings, etc.

When we come together with all these differences, with all this diversity, might there at times be some conflict?  Definitely.  Now, I’m not saying there is currently any conflict.  Heck, we’re not even meeting in person. 

I did, however, say last year, day 1 in the pulpit, that I knew I wasn’t perfect, that I was going to make mistakes, and that this is an ongoing learning adventure.  I know truthfully, that as a leader, I am darned if I do and darned if I don’t.  Therefore, my goal and my heart is to do whatever I do for an audience of One.  Colossians 3:17 (NIV)—“And whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Even so, there will be disagreement at times.  With me. With each other.  With folks in community.  With politics.  With family members.  Etc.

When those times of conflict arise, how do we respond?  How do we deal with folks?

That’s what we can take away from this passage today.

One thing to know is that responding with a calm non-anxious presence is key. 

That’s not from the passage, but it is something applicable.

Welcoming others as God’s children stems from love.  It happens because we love our neighbor.

We are to see others as God’s child, as God’s beloved child.  From my reading this past week, a quote from William Greenway, a professor at a Seminary in Texas: “Once we stop seeing another person as a child of God and view him or her instead as the personification of a sin, it becomes easy to enjoy the energy of disdain and self-righteous opposition.” (Feasting on the Word, 64)

Listen again…. With some edits.. ‘once we stop seeing another person as a child of God and view him or her instead AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE CHILD OF GOD THAT HE OR SHE IS, it becomes easy to enjoy the energy of disdain and self-righteous opposition.’

That’s either an OUCH or an AMEN.  Which is it for you today?!?!

In order to welcome others as God’s children, we must truly see them as God’s children.  We must love them.  We must look at ourselves and ask ourselves if there is any disdain or self-righteousness between us.  If there is, we have work to do.  Are we willing to do the work to become more like Christ?  To become transformed into living, loving, and leading like Christ?

God welcomes ALL.

Here at St. Elmo United Methodist Church, we know that.  “Y’all means all”, right?!?!  It’s not just a t-shirt slogan.  It’s not simply because we are a Reconciling Ministry Network congregation in which we truly include ALL, NO EXCEPTIONS. 

We live it.  We do. 

And we can all find ways to live it better.  There are onion layers to peel off.  Maybe not in your life you say.  Fair enough.  In my life, I can do a better job of welcoming all as God’s children.  I can continue to learn how to handle and resolve conflict.  I can allow God to heal and transform me so that I love myself so that I can love God and my neighbor. 

You may have it all figured out.  I know that for me, to live, love, and lead like Jesus is an ongoing journey.

To welcome all as God’s children IS my heart’s desire. 

I AM growing.

I HAVE learned.

When you realize that how God created someone is NOT a sin, that’s a huge learning and turning point.  When you begin to treat God’s creations as valid and worthy lives, regardless, that is huge. 

I’m still getting there.  I’m still growing.  I still make mistakes.  I still fall and fail.  As I continue to say, that’s where grace comes in.

Last week I shared the 30 days of anti-racism challenge by the General Commission on Religion and Race.  If you decided to embark on that journey, how is it going?  What has been most challenging for you as you are growing and learning?  Today’s challenge on the calendar is this: listen to a preacher from a different cultural background than your own.  With so many services on line, you can easily find that.  If you need assistance, let me know.  We have culturally diverse preachers right here in our community.  There are other Reconciling Ministry Network churches with preachers from differing cultural backgrounds. With the pandemic, I know some folks are watching more services than they have in the past, so this challenge is a fun one.

Some of you know by now, but others may not yet know that God has used some very personal things in my life to teach me how beloved and welcomed children of God are.  Even something as simple as a name became a lesson for me in welcoming a child of God, being welcomed as a child of God, and receiving grace.

When I think of being welcomed as a child of God, I think of a story very personal to me. Because the entire story isn’t mine to share, I will just say this: I am forever grateful that God, who IS love, continues to teach me about love.  God IS patient, kind, compassionate.  God, who created each of us uniquely, loves us and welcomes us.

I will also say this to you as a faith community: Thank you!  As a parent and as your pastor, thank you.  From the moment we came here, you welcomed me and my family as God’s children.  That meant much to me. From the first Sunday when Keith told me that he and the congregation had my back, I felt welcomed. More than me being welcomed, the love and acceptance offered to my son was tremendous.  He helped out at VBS last year.  He came to Christmas Eve service.  Some of you have gotten to know him through other gatherings.  The fact that you have embraced him and welcomed him has made this mom able to breathe again. 

This is what “welcomed as God’s children” is all about, isn’t it?!

We are to offer others a place, a space, for all to breathe.  A place, a space of grace, for rest, for healing, for love, of acceptance.

I have a sign in my yard, next to my St. Elmo sign that reminds me I am loved, that says “love and acceptance practiced here”.  I saw the sign in Greensboro, NC and knocked on the door of the home and inquired about it.  The homeowner treated me as a welcomed child of God and showed me love and acceptance by giving me her sign.  I got home and ordered quite a few.  I sold some at Wild Goose last year.  The sign is a way for me to show my neighbors that I welcome them.

God desires that we find a way to welcome one another, to love one another, to share spaces of grace with one another.

If you are looking for a space to get to know some folks better and to grow, on Sunday mornings there is a Zoom Sunday School class at 10 am.  If you haven’t heard about it until now, no worries.  There are 10 weeks left.  You can still join in.  The series is “Knowing Better”.  There is an event on the FB page with the zoom link. 

We grow as we study and share conversations together.

We grow as we welcome all God’s children, recognizing that “God is God of all people, even those we struggle to accept.” (Jeannette A. Good, Feasting on the Word, Year A, 67)

Amen.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

YouTube Service

SoundCloud Audio

Be Kids, Everybody!

In my post about Slava Korsak's concert, I mentioned his ending of the concert and spoke briefly about that admonition.

I wanted to flesh that out a little more.

You see, I am a kid at heart and soul.  Now, if you know me, that isn't news to you.  Maybe you've picked up on that even if you haven't met me in person and you've been reading my blog.  I've known it too.  Yet, I've had a difficult time accepting myself for who I am in that realm because playing and enjoying life isn't always looked upon favorably by society.

Even so, I've still done it.  When I've felt led, I've done things with abandon in my heart..... like go up on stage as a "child" (child of God) to hear the Bishop (Swanson, at the time) read a story (The Spyglass) at Annual Conference.  My spirit said "go", but I was hesitant.  I went, though a little nervous.  I didn't look back.  I later learned that some teens came up and joined myself and the younger crowd.

I have spent time on swings and slides at parks.  I enjoy the simple things of life. 

*[These next three pictures are from the 5 Day Academy in TN, Camp Garner Creek, 2010, when I played on the tall metal slide, the red slide, and the swings.]

This past week at the retreat, in the inner workings of my "soil" / soul, I have finally come to peace with the fact that as a child of God, it is okay to play, to enjoy God's creation, to enjoy life, etc.  And it's okay to do so in front of others.  You see, in the past, I might only let my playful side come out when I was by myself or totally in my comfort zone.  But, what is new for me is that I'm learning to be the "me" I was created to be at all times.  Period.  It is okay to be this me and I am not ashamed of how God created me.  I said "learning.  I'm not there 100 % yet.  And, I know there are times for play and times that aren't for play. 

What it feels like is that I have emerged, that the caterpillar has come out of its chrysalis and that I'm not flying in freedom.

I saw this butterfly on the road the day of silence.  Though it is dead, it still symbolizes emergence and flight into freedom for me.  The journey of a butterfly's transformation and metamorphosis lasts longer than its time as a butterfly.  Yet the flight into freedom is worth all the time in the darkness, the learning, the growing, the awareness, the transformation.  The analogy to a caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly don't fully work for our spiritual life, but you get the idea.  Our transformed flight lasts longer than the life of the butterfly, prayerfully.

I noticed that the inner change was becoming complete and whole this past week at the FUMSDRL / HOF retreat (Christ the King Retreat Center) when I walked out from noon prayer and was heading to lunch.  Right before my very eyes was the luscious, verdant lawn with arching water sprinklers soaring above the ground in perfect arches.  I hesitated for a slight moment.  I dropped my books, emptied my pockets, and took off my nametag and camera from around my neck so that everything would stay dry.  Then I took off running into the grass.  Through the first sprinkler I went, getting wet.  Then I jumped over the next one, and the next one, and so on.  I must have run and jumped over at least 5 or 6 sprinklers over the lawn.  It felt GREAT!  I felt free and I enjoyed my burst of play.  The best part of it was that it fit my skin, so to speak, and that because I had responded to the call within my spirit, I was whole.

Play is an important part of life and we are all truly children of God.  I realize that we each live into that play in different ways.  Give me simple or give me adventure, anywhere from blowing bubbles to zip lining or hang gliding. 

So, today, when Slava Korsak ended the concert with the benediction: "We are all children of God; be kids, everybody!", I let out an "Amen!"  That resonated within my heart, mind, and soul. 

Before Slava, there was someone else that spoke of us being children of the Kingdom.  Oh, yeah... Jesus. ☺.  And, I take that seriously.

Play is a spiritual discipline that keeps me alive and in touch with who I am and whose I am.  It doesn't replace any of the other spiritual disciplines (practices), but it is an important one that I need to remember to incorporate. 

And, because it is more than just a spiritual discipline for me... it is how I am wired... I can live into being the "me" I was uniquely created to be... without apology or shame.

So, when the praise band ramps us "How Wonderful" at the very end of the 2nd service today and then goes into "I'll Fly Away".... can you guess what I did?!?!  I "flew".  Yep.  I "flew" for a few moments around the sanctuary.  I always want to fly when I hear that song.   But I don't.  I did today because most folks were gone out of the sanctuary.  And, because I am attempting to live more authentically and with higher integrity when the spirit leads me into play. 

It requires listening.  Listening caused me to take bubbles with to the retreat last week.  I wasn't fully sure why.  But when I kept hearing the words "bubbling up" the first two days, I knew I was to offer them to my listening group.  I did.  I was a little anxious what they might think of the bubbles, but because I knew it wasn't really me offering the bubbles, I listened and obeyed.  Would you be surprised if I told you that God affirmed to me that God was truly in the bubbles?!?!  Even I enjoyed my personal time with the bubbles!

Another way I played this week was on the musical instrument trail at Buffalo Lake.  Oh, what joy in playing those instruments along the lake.  I'll share more about that wonderful and creative trail with you at another time.  But, I will say that my most fun moment was when I played the colorful set of bongo type drums up by the playground next to a toddler on the chimes.  She and I made music together, taking turns with our sounds.  That was joyful!

How do you live into play?  What does it take for you to make time for play?  There is definitely freedom in play.

So, play!  Remember that we are all children of God.  Be kids, everybody!

Blessings on your journey,

Debra

¿Dónde está Jesús? / Where is Jesus? Session #2

If you read my first blog on this topic, you know that the Jesus Doll is part of the worship experience at the 2 Year Academy of which I'm a part.  I shared some photos of Jesus and the altar scenes and my reflections for the week from my first week.

I was looking forward to the Academy.  I was looking forward to meeting back up with the team, my group, and the others.  I was looking forward to all the Spanish and the worship.  I was looking forward to the faculty and what they had for us.  I was looking forward to the silence and the solitude.  I was looking forward to seeing the alligators.  If that last one didn't make me sound a little crazy, now I'm going to sound like a little kid here, but that's okay.  As I claim, I'm a child of God. ☺ I was also looking forward to seeing the Jesus Doll.  I could be "spiritual" and say that I was looking forward to seeing Jesus.  (And, I was.)  But, I seriously was looking forward to seeing how the Jesus Doll would participate in worship with us during the week, according to the themes of the day.

I didn't get pictures everyday this past week of Jesus, but I got a few.  One I didn't get was the first day we arrived.  The word was "creation".  Jesus was in the back of the room, sitting by the shell with the stones and water, holding a vine.  That was cool.

The next morning, Jesus was sitting on the floor in front of the altar with his right hand raised up as if to say, "Hi". 

Below, Jesus holding an apple on the theme day for "sin".

Here, Jesus is knitting.  I love the yarn colors here! (I forgot the word theme for this day.)

Here, Jesus is in exile, far away from the other things.



The last morning, I walked in for worship and looked around.  I didn't see Jesus anywhere.  I wondered where he had gone.  I asked the one in charge of setting up the altars and the worship space and she explained to me that Jesus had gone the night before to keep someone company, someone who needed Jesus more than the worship space.  That was pretty cool, I thought.

I sat down and started preparing my heart and mind for worship.  Then, I looked up at the theme for the day and the word was "restoration".  WOW!  Not just "pretty cool", but REALLY COOL!!  Because I knew where Jesus was.  I knew who he was with.  And, there was no better place for Jesus to be on this day of restoration than with this person.

Yet, what did that mean for the worship space?!?!  I don't know, we'll see.  Jesus has a way of showing up unexpected.  I'm not going to lose hope that I will see Jesus once again worship with us and among us.

Meanwhile, it looks like it's going to be up to the rest of us to be the Jesus that he modeled for us.  To live daily into whatever the "theme" of the day brings and to worship alongside others, to be the hands and feet that bring hope, love, and restoration to those in need.

I know, I know... maybe it's odd that the Jesus Doll can inspire me so much, but it has!   And, I'm not the only one.  There are several of us wondering about a group discount. ☺

Anyway, may you find Jesus when you seek him.  May you be inspired to live as he did.

Blessings on your journey!

~Debra ☺



I'm a toys-r-us kid...

Do you remember the commercial for Toys-R-Us with the kid (or kids) singing "I don't wanna grow up, I'm a toys-r-us kid"?  That jingle has stuck in head ever since I first heard it.  I can't quite picture the kid singing it, especially since several different kids did the commercial, and maybe some adults too.  I could probably search for it on YouTube.

Anyway, I consider myself a "toys-r-us kid".  Not in the sense that I play with lots of toys and hang out at playgrounds, though I still enjoy toys and playgrounds.  (In fact, while on the 5 day academy in October, I took a few moments to enjoy some of the really cool slides and swings they had there!)

When my daughter was several years younger, I would tease her anytime something came up for children to be involved.  I would tell her that I planned to participate as well.  She would tell me I couldn't.  Then, I would remind her that I am a child... and she would interrupt me, letting me know that a child of God didn't count for this particular situation. 

Yes, I admit it.  I am a child.  I am a child of God.

 

This isn't a new revelation to me or to anyone that knows me.  What is a new revelation to me this morning is something that really shouldn't be, but is.  You know how when you read something that you've known for a LONG time, and something NEW pops out?!?  Well, that is what happened to me this morning as I was reading my bible study lesson for this week (Matthew 6:1-18).  

So, what caught my attention fresh, anew?  That we are taught by Christ to pray as children to "Our Father".  Why did that catch my attention?  I don't really know.  I know of the Scriptures throughout that talk about us coming into the kingdom as a child.  [Matthew 18:3-4, Matthew 19:14, Mark 10:14-15, Luke 18:16-17]

Yet, even though I've prayed it [Lord's Prayer/Jesus' Prayer] for YEARS, I don't think I've ever intentionally recognized that I'm praying as a child of God to Father.  What in the world have I been thinking then?!?  That I was just some person praying to God.  Just one more relationship connection for me in the puzzle.  And not just to God, but to the entire community of believers.  I think that slips by me sometimes as well, that this prayer unites all believers as we pray "Our...".  That's important to remember as well.  We come together as children of God.

Children of God.  Child-likeness, not child-ishness.  There is a difference.  And there are Scriptures that refer to believers that are still drinking spiritual milk instead of chewing on solid food.  We are to be intentional in our journey to grow and mature in our faith, yet not transfer our dependence from God to ourselves as we grow.  This isn't easy.  At least not until we face trials, hardships, struggles, etc.

When I think of myself as a child of God, I think of a song by Twila Paris: "The Warrior is a Child".  As we grow up, sometimes we forget that we are God's children.  No matter how much we grow in the faith, let's remember that we are always children of God. 

Being a child of God, what does it mean?  Beyond entering the kingdom as a child, beyond child-likeness vs. child-ishness behaviors, what does it mean?  Here are some words from Henri Nouwen that might explain it better than I ever could:

"Just for a moment, in your prayer and meditation, try to enter this enormous mystery: that you, like Christ, are God's beloved child.  In you, God is well pleased.  Your belovedness precedes your birth.  It will follow you all the days of your life and beyond death.  You are fully loved of God before your father and mother, brother, sister, family, or church loved you or didn't love you, hurt you or helped you.  You are fully loved because you belong to God for all eternity.  That's the truth of your identity.  That's who you are.  And you can reclaim it at any moment." (Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit, HarperOne, 2010, page 110.) 

Here's to living into kingdom life as a child of God!

~Debra