Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Christ Is Our Peace-- last week's sermon, reflections, and links

This past Sunday I was able to round out getting back into the pulpit for year 4 of ministry and year 4 in the Holston Georgia Parish as I preached at Fort Oglethorpe UMC and Simpson UMC.  It was good to be back in those faith communities to worship with this on Sunday.

The sermon was from Ephesians 2:11-22, with the focus verse being 14: "Christ is our peace."

As I prepared for the sermon, I ran across a hymn written by Richard Garland, a retired United Methodist pastor and a hymn writer.  His hymn, "Christ Is Our Peace" was perfect for the sermon, so I included it.  I knew I would want to include it in this blog post, so I wrote and asked permission to include the lyrics.  He graciously agreed, requesting that I included copyright information.  I have added that to the sermon notes below.  I have also added several links to Discipleship Ministries, where you can read about him and his hymns.

As usual, what you read below is not necessarily exactly what was shared in full at one or either church.  I share with the hope that you might experience Christ as your peace.

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“Christ Is Our Peace”
Ephesians 2:11-22 (CEB)
July 22, 2018 (9th Sunday after Pentecost)
Fort Oglethorpe UMC, Simpson UMC


11 So remember that once you were Gentiles by physical descent, who were called “uncircumcised” by Jews who are physically circumcised. 12 At that time you were without Christ. You were aliens rather than citizens of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of God’s promise. In this world you had no hope and no God. 13 But now, thanks to Christ Jesus, you who once were so far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 Christ is our peace. He made both Jews and Gentiles into one group. With his body, he broke down the barrier of hatred that divided us. 15 He canceled the detailed rules of the Law so that he could create one new person out of the two groups, making peace. 16 He reconciled them both as one body to God by the cross, which ended the hostility to God.
17 When he came, he announced the good news of peace to you who were far away from God and to those who were near. 18 We both have access to the Father through Christ by the one Spirit. 19 So now you are no longer strangers and aliens. Rather, you are fellow citizens with God’s people, and you belong to God’s household. 20 As God’s household, you are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 The whole building is joined together in him, and it grows up into a temple that is dedicated to the Lord.22 Christ is building you into a place where God lives through the Spirit.
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THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
THANKS BE TO GOD.
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There are several passages in Scripture where Christ comes into situations that aren’t peaceful and in those situations of chaos or fear, what Jesus says to those in his midst is a word of peace.

Two examples:

Mark 4:38-40 (NRSV)-- “...Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 

John 20:19 (CEB)—“That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.”

In a world filled with stress, difficulties, death, loss of any kind, how are we to understand that Christ doesn’t just speak peace into our lives, but that Christ IS our peace, as it states in verse 14? What does that mean for us?

Looking back at the passage, some of the key words that stand out to me are: reconciliation, no longer strangers and aliens, citizens, joined together. 

Christ IS our peace, verse 14.  And, Christ is building you into a place where God lives through the Spirit, verse 22.

This passage reminds us of who and whose we are, recognizing the joy, freedom, and responsibility that comes with being someone through whom Christ is bringing peace, wholeness, and healing into the world.  And it isn’t just us individually.  As we gather to worship corporately, we come together in community to share on a larger scale.

Speaking of coming together in community—there is a part of worship called the “Passing of the Peace”.  Because of today’s sermon, “Christ Is Our Peace”, it’s a good time to briefly talk about what the “passing of the peace” means.   

The passing of the peace has been around for centuries.  You may have noticed the greetings in the letters of Paul: “grace and peace”.  And as mentioned previously in the sermon, Jesus shared the word of peace with his disciples.


“The Passing of the Peace is a time when all, including the pastor, exchange signs and words of peace and reconciliation with one another.  This  is  more formal  than the welcome /  greeting above.  It  may be viewed as an act of seeking and granting forgiveness.”  https://www.umcsc.org/PDF/WorshipNutsandBolts2.pdf               


“The Passing of the Peace is a sign of reconciliation and blessing which is based on New Testament Christian practice (Romans 16:16 and at least 4 other verses advise, “Greet one another with a holy kiss.”) These days, we are a bit shy about kissing, and some are even hesitant to shake hands, especially if they’ve got a cold.  Nevertheless, the act is significant, whether we shake hands, bump elbow, hold up a hippie “peace-V”, or simply look one another in the eye as we greet each other.  It is far more than a chance to say “Hi.” In sharing the words like “The peace of Christ be with you,” and hearing the response “And also with you,” we are reminded that we are all in this together; we are all God’s children who “forgive as we are forgiven.”  We have the power and the charge to bless others with Christ’s peace every moment of every day, but it’s not easy.  In worship, we practice sharing that important, life-giving act.”


When you “pass the peace” of Christ, therefore, what do you say? 

You can simply say: “Peace of Christ.”  or “Christ’s peace.”  Or you can elaborate: “The peace of Christ be with you.”   The response is “and also with you”.

You typically pass the peace to those nearby you, on your pew, in front of you or behind you. If there is a need to share reconciliation with someone, do it.

This is a brief teaching on passing of the peace.  “Chuck Knows Church” has an episode on this, #69-- Passing of the Peace.
                                                       
 Richard Garland, a United Methodist pastor and hymn writer, wrote a hymn in 2014 entitled, “Christ Is Our Peace”.  I found it on the Discipleship Ministries website.  He currently lives in Rhode Island these days, is active in the Emmaus community, and still fills in as pulpit supply.

“Christ Is Our Peace”, Copyright F. Richard Garland, 2014. Used by permission.



1--Christ is our peace, the source of hope and healing, who brings us near, that love may reconcile.  He breaks down walls that separate and break us.  He challenges conventions that defile.

2--His covenant calls us to love each other.  His presence seeks discipleship and peace.  In fellowship with saints of every nation our dwelling place in Christ will bring release.

3--Christ welcomes all: no one is seen as stranger.  The alien is neighbor and our friend.  The walls we build are broken by his great love.  His unity will all our schisms end.

What a powerful hymn from today’s passage. 

Hope, healing, reconciling love. Walls broken down that separate us.  Conventions challenged.

We are called to love each other.  How are we doing?  How are we living into our our covenant relationship of discipleship with Christ?

No one is seen as stranger because Christ welcomes all.  Are we modeling this example of Christ?  Do we welcome all into our daily lives?  What about our faith community?  Are all welcome here?  Is there anyone who is not welcome here? Christ IS our peace and has broken down the walls by his great love.  There is unity and reconciliation in Christ.

It is up to us, as followers and disciples of Christ to do the hard work of growing in our own faith so that we can continue to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. 

As you have heard today’s passage, the words from the hymn, and other teachings, how does this peace of Christ strike you today? 

This peace of Christ, the reconciliation and unity is the foundation of our individual faith journey, our own faith community, our parish, and the community where we are physically structured. If we aren’t allowing the peace of Christ to live in us, to flow from us, then how will it flow and shine from us to others?

I don’t know about you, but for me, this is challenge is real.  To allow the peace of Christ to live in me, to flow from me, to remember that the walls are already broken down and that there are NO strangers or aliens, that Christ welcomes all.  My goal continues to be to love God and love others as I love myself and to live, love, and lead like Jesus.

In closing, I share these words from Bishop Rueben Job with you: “Peace, hope, calm, and joy are the fruits of placing our confidence in God.  May these gifts be yours in abundance.” (A Guide to Prayer For All Who Walk With God, 268)


Amen.
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Please share any feedback about the sermon, the hymn or anything else that struck you.

Blessings on your journey, 

Debra

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