The Pastor’s Words

Text:  Mark 13:24-37
30 Nov 2008
Topic:  Servants in charge…
 
Advent is here.  We have begun a new church year.  The drama of the church year begins anew.  Advent is the season of the church year when we get ready and wait.  We get ready for the coming of the Messiah.  We get ready for this year’s celebration of the birth of Jesus. 
But, we also wait.  We wait for the day when Christ will come again, when the Son of Man will once again come and be among us, to heal us, to hold us, to take us to himself, to live with him forever.
As we said last week, Jesus will one day re-appear on this earth and declare his sovereignty.  He will one day return to earth and declare his kingship over all who have ever inhabited this planet.  And, on that day, he will exercise his kingly prerogative and decide who will spend eternity with him.
Five days ago, terrorists attacked the financial district of Mumbai, formerly Bombay, in India.  So far, we don’t really know who these terrorists were.  But this much we DO know, they were intent on killing innocent people, targeting westerners and people who were Jewish.  In the end, many more Indian people were killed, than westerners or Jewish people, but obviously, they didn’t care.  The terrorists left their mark.  Someday, we’ll hear who they were and why they did what they did.
For now, it is a chilling reminder for everyone on this earth to do as Jesus tells us in the gospel for today, “Be alert, stay awake.   Watch out, be ready.  For no one knows the day or the time when the end will come.”  (Mark 13:32-33 CEV)  Of course, Jesus was talking about the end of the world, but for the 183 who died, the end came this week, and way too soon. 
Jesus urges us to be ready for the day we die, and, for the day when he returns.  Either way, the end will arrive and we need to be prepared to meet our Maker.
I don’t know if any of you are like me, because if you are, you are constantly listening to the news, be it local, in the state, in the nation, or around the world.   I can’t help it.  I’m caught up in the news every day.  We buy two newspapers, the Daily Local and the Philadelphia Inquirer.  I listen to KYW radio news “three, four times a day,” and to National Public Radio when I’m not listening to KYW.  Finally, I watch the evening news to catch the visual images of the day.
Believe it or not, I do this, in part, because I want to be ready.  I want to know what’s going on, here and around the world.  I do this because I want to stay alert.  I want to watch for the signs of what’s going on all around us, because, along with you, I have no idea when the end will come.
I also do it because, for the time being, we are in charge.  Yes, for the time being, you and I, and all of the politicians and rulers of this age, are in charge.  At least that’s what the gospel reading tells us.
In verse 34 of today’s gospel, Jesus says, “It is like what happens when a man goes away for a while and places his servants in charge of everything.  He tells each of them what to do, and he orders the guard to keep alert.”  (Mark 13:34  CEV)
After his resurrection and ascension into heaven, we read in the book of Acts the first chapter that Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them.  And once the Holy Spirit was upon them, they were to become his witnesses first in Judea, then Samaria, and finally to the ends of the earth.  (Acts 1:8) 
As those first disciples came to KNOW the Word of God, and as they began to LIVE the Word of God, they were to SHARE that Word of God with people in their home town, in the regions all around them, and eventually to take that WORD to every part of the world.  
They were in charge.  And because THEY were put in charge, WE have been put in charge. 
Scary, isn’t it?  Us in charge!
I’ve always wondered why God made the world to be the way it is.  I mean, why would God leave frail, imperfect, warring people on earth to be the caretakers of it?  Why would God deliberately leave us to our own devices?  Didn’t God realize what would happen when we were left on our own?
Didn’t God read Isaiah, from today’s first reading, where Isaiah correctly states, “We [humans] dry up like leaves….we are nothing but clay.”  (Isaiah 64:6,8 CEV).  
It’s no wonder that the attack took place in Mumbai.  People who obviously believe they have something to prove, or something to say, shot and killed a whole lot of people in the name of some unknown cause.  Because they had the guns, and they had the training, and they had the element of surprise on their side, they – who were in charge for those few days – made their point. 
How very sad.  How very misguided and mistaken.  And yet, while they were “in charge,” they wreaked havoc on this world.
When God took Jesus back to heaven upon his ascension, he left us in charge, for good or ill.  As believers, if we KNOW and LIVE the Word of God, we need to make the most of our responsibility to be a force for good in this world, to SHARE God’s Word, to any and all who will hear it. 
That’s why I am “a news junky.”  I want to know what’s going on in the world.   And, I want to know what I can do, in this world, to be a force for good.
Of those who are “in charge” on any given day or in any given situation, I want to know what they are doing, each and every day.  And, where and when it is possible, I want to add my voice, or my actions, that will counter those who would destroy us.
Jesus made it very clear in our gospel reading for today, we cannot live in a vacuum, we cannot live with our heads in the sand, we cannot ignore the evening news, we cannot be uninvolved, or simply remain on the sideline of life as a spectator. 
Like it or not, we are in charge and we have a job to do.  Part of that job is to stay informed.  And part of that job is to do those things that will promote peace and justice in this world.   As Paul wrote to the Corinthian church in the second lesson, he said, “God can be trusted, and he chose [us] to be partners with his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (I Corinthians 1:9 CEV)
Advent is upon us.  It’s the season when we get ready and wait.  We are getting ready for the return of the Messiah, be that for his birthday, or, for his final return in glory. 
Either way, while we wait, we are in charge of everything.  (Mark 13:34)  With the Holy Spirit to guide us, may we be God’s ambassadors for peace and justice, here, and around the world.  May we be alert, stay awake, watch out, and be ready for Messiah’s return.  AMEN
           

Text:  Matthew 25:31-46
23 November 2008
Topic:  Christ is King when….
 
Christ is King in your life and mine when…   Well, you fill in the blank.
The comedian, Jeff Foxworthy, has a routine in which he gives one line follow-ups to the statement, “You might be a redneck if….”  And then, he completes the sentence. 
A sample of his jokes are “You might be a redneck if you think the last words to ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ are ‘Gentlemen, start your engines.’” 
Another example of his humor is, “You might be a redneck if you think God looks a lot like Hank Williams, Jr., and heaven looks a lot like Daytona Beach, Florida.” 
(Jokes from - http://www.fortogden.com/foredneck.html)
Mr. Foxworthy is a comedian and his jokes make light of a certain segment of our population.  
But, in our gospel reading today, Jesus isn’t joking.  He’s dead serious when he says, “When the Son of Man comes into his glory with all of his angels, he will sit on his royal throne.  The people of all nations will be brought before him, and he will separate them, as shepherds separate their sheep from their goats.”  (Matthew 25:31-46  CEV)
Then, at the end of today’s gospel reading, He says, “If you fail to help any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seem, you fail me.  [And] those people [who fail to help others] will be punished forever.  But the ones who please God will have eternal life.  (Matthew 25:45-46  CEV)
Today is Christ the King Sunday.  We celebrate this particular Sunday each year, at the same time, on the last Sunday of the Church Year which, for this year, is today.  It is the culmination of an entire year of scripture readings that began with the story of Jesus’ birth, the story of his death and resurrection, and the many stories of his ministry here on earth. 
The last story to tell is that Jesus will one day re-appear on this earth and declare his sovereignty.  He will one day return to earth and declare his kingship over all who have ever inhabited this planet.  And, on that day, he will exercise his kingly prerogative and separate those who were helpful on earth from those who were not. 
He will gather everyone from far and near, from every corner of the earth, from the high and mighty to the lowliest of the low.  And he will judge us.  Those who find favor in the eyes of the king will live forever.  Those who do not will be punished forever.
In our gospel for today, Jesus identifies himself with anyone who is hungry.  He identifies himself with anyone who is thirsty.  He identifies himself with anyone who is naked, or sick, or in prison.  In short, he identifies himself with anyone who is in any kind of need.
Jesus says, “Whenever you help others in need, you are helping ME, you are extending a helping hand to the Son of God, the King of Kings, the Lord of all.
And so, I’m here today to help us think about how we might fill in the blanks at the end of the statement, “Christ is King in your life and mine when….”
This will be a random list, with no particular emphasis intended, nor any hierarchy presumed.  It’s just a list.
1.      Christ is King in your life and mine when we pray for others.
2.      Christ is King in your life and mine when we sit and listen to the lonely neighbor next door.
3.      Christ is King in your life and mine when we read the newspaper and listen to the news with an eye and ear for who might need prayer, a phone call, a visit, or a helping hand.
4.      Christ is King in your life and mine when we buy stuffing mix and bring it to church so people in Coatesville will have a better Thanksgiving this year.
5.      Christ is King in your life and mine when we celebrate the baptisms of 12 people who have come into our midst from another country and are seeking the fellowship and joy of a community of faith.
6.      Christ is King in your life and mine when we look at how much money we are giving to the church and truly ask ourselves, “Does what I give demonstrate the Kingship of Christ in my life?”  Or, “Does the King just get the leftovers?”
7.      Christ is King in your life and mine when we stop worrying about our personal finances and trust that the Lord God will take care for us, maybe not in the way we had planned, but care nonetheless.
8.      Christ is King in your life and mine when we read the bulletin each week and see if there isn’t something we could do to help someone else, be it helping with the Bridge of Hope dinner, buying a gift from the angel tree for Christmas, baking cookies for others, buying gifts for Pocopson Home residents, or praying for those whom we list each week.
9.      Christ is King in your life and mine when we come here each week and deliberately look for people whom we don’t know and then try to get to know them.  After all, didn’t Jesus say, “When you welcome strangers, you welcome me?”  (Matthew 25:38-40  CEV)  All of us are strangers.  None of us knows everyone here this morning.  And yet, Jesus lives in each and every one of us and if we extend a hand to the person who appears to be a “stranger” we just might be shaking the hand of Jesus.
10.  Christ is King in your life and mine when we believe everything we do on this earth matters.
 
Thanksgiving is upon us this week.  We will gather here on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. to celebrate the gifts God has given to us.  And on Thursday, we will gather with family and friends and once again give thanks for all that we’ve been given.
May we realize how truly blessed we are and share from that same abundance.  May we celebrate the grace of God given to each of us in our baptism, give thanks for the salvation that is ours in Christ Jesus, and bow in humble homage to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords who is forever present in our neighbors in need.   
Christ is King.  Alleluia.  AMEN
 
 

Text: Matthew 25:14-30
16 November 2008
Topic:  We are blessed.
 
Congratulations!  You are blessed!  I am blessed.  Yes, you and I are blessed!  We don’t always recognize this, nor do we celebrate it nearly enough, but we are blessed. 
We are blessed with life and health – or as much health as we presently have – and blessed with family and friends – or as many family and friends as we have – and blessed with all kinds of talents and abilities.  We are blessed.  God is the giver and we are the receiver.  We have talents.
In the older, more familiar, translation of the Bible, the New Revised Standard Version, today’s gospel reading is rendered in the following way:  “¹⁴For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; ¹⁵to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability.  Then he went away.”  (Matthew 25:14-15 NRSV)
Generally, we use the word “talent” to refer to our abilities.  You know, “You’ve really got a talent for singing, or, you’ve got the gift of cooking a really good stew.”  That’s the way we normally use the word “talent.”
However, the word, “talent,” in this context refers to a very large sum of money.  In New Testament times, one talent would have been worth about 20 years of income for a common laborer.   So, even the Contemporary English Version which you heard read this morning referring to 5000 coins doesn’t begin to demonstrate the magnitude of the gift which was given by the master to his three servants.
Nevertheless, for our purposes this morning, let us take this word, “talent,” and explore its double meaning.  And, let’s assume the master in the story is God and the servants are us, you and me.  And let’s say, God has given each of us abilities – talents – which God wants us to use for the sake of his Kingdom. 
About 23 years ago, after I had been a pastor for some 7 or 8 years, I had had some really tough years in the congregation I was serving at the time.  It caused me to wonder if parish ministry was what I should continue to do.  So, I called the synod bishop and asked if there was a career counseling center I could go to and find out if my gifts, if my talents, were being used in the best way.  Maybe there was something else I should be doing with my life.
Bishop Larry Hand sent me to the career counseling center at Princeton University and after taking a whole battery of tests that gave my counselor information about my personality, my hopes and dreams, my actual abilities, both mental and physical, I was given a report. 
My counselor said, “Well, here’s what the tests tell us.  We try to give people three different options to consider once the testing is completed.  We like to believe that people don’t need to feel locked into their field of work.  But, in your case, the first thing that stands out when we tested you is that you should be a pastor.  The second thing that stands out is that you should be a pastor.  And, the third thing that stands out is that you should be a pastor.  However, the fourth thing you could do, should being a pastor fail, is that you might consider being a physical therapist.”
My talent, my gift, is to be a pastor.  And so, I have continued and will continue to be the best pastor I can be.
Your talent, your gift, is no doubt different from mine.  Your talent and your gift has been revealed to you, or it’s still in the process of being revealed, and you are seeking to be the very best at what you are doing.
Some people shy away from using their God-given gifts.  Like the third servant in our gospel reading, some people are afraid to fail, afraid to step out and use the gifts God has given them, afraid to spend the energy, or spend the time pursuing one’s dream, or, in the context of the gospel, to allow oneself to actually become a fired-up disciple of Christ.
The first two servants in today’s gospel reading took a risk.  They took the talents given to them, invested them, and returned that investment to the master.   Without risk, there wasn’t going to be any reward.  Without spending the money given to them, there wasn’t going to be anything new to show for the talents entrusted to them.
We can talk about “risk taking” in terms of personal abilities, and we can talk about “risk taking” in terms of money.  Either way, when we take risks, we are putting ourselves in the hands of a merciful God who wants us to use the gifts and talents we’ve been given.   According to this gospel reading, God doesn’t want us to hide our talent, to hide our gifts.  We are step out in faith and trust that God will show us how best to use our abilities for the sake of the Kingdom.
That’s the first meaning of the word, “talent.”  The second meaning, the meaning intended by our gospel reading, is about money.
The congregation council just finished its work on the proposed budget for 2009.  You can pick up a copy in the narthex following worship today.  After several months of labor, prayer, and deliberation, I believe it represents the activity of the Holy Spirit. 
This congregation has had a rough couple of years, both financially and with attendance at worship.  Our lowest worship attendance figures in 15 years were reported last year.  But this year, the attendance is on the rise again. 
Financially, we have been doing well enough, until this year, when our members simply were not giving as much of their “talents,” as much of their money, to the work of this congregation as we needed.  So, in October we had to have a special appeal for money.  And, glory to be God, over $12,000 has come in for this special appeal and our deficit at the end of the year will not be nearly what it would have been.
Nevertheless, the council is proposing that we take a risk in 2009.  Most years, we assume our receipts will increase by 3%.  We are taking the risk of expecting our receipts to be 4% more than last year.  We believe that people who responded to the needs this fall and will respond to the same needs in  2009 as well.
Talents are the treasures given to us from God.  These treasures are the gifts and abilities we are blessed with, and they are the actual financial gifts that have been given to us as well.  If all we do is try to protect ourselves, or save our treasures and abilities and keep them to ourselves, we run the risk of losing them.  If I had tried to do anything other than be a pastor, I would have been mis-spending my gifts and abilities.  If I look at my finances only in terms of myself, and take no risk with gifts to the church, then I would be mis-using God’s financial gifts to me.
But, if we spend our gifts, if we give of our talents and abilities, then God will bless us.
Finally, the most important talent, the most precious gift, you and I have is the gift of the gospel, the good news of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  What are we doing with that gift?  Are we keeping it to ourselves, or, are we risking to share it with others?
This gospel reading for today says nothing about our salvation.  We are saved by grace through faith alone.  But, this gospel IS about what we do with the gifts and abilities and treasures God has given to us.  Being a faithful steward of that which God given to us is really, really important. 
We pray you will read about the proposed budget for 2009 and listen to the Spirit who is calling you to faithful stewardship.  AMEN

Text:  Matthew 25:1-13
9 November 2008
Topic:  Time for the amendment of life

            Time is experienced by each of us in a whole lot of different ways.  Time is something we sometimes use well, sometimes trash, sometimes use to our advantage, and sometimes even celebrate.

In life, some people are always early.  Others are always late.  Precious few are on time, all the time. 

When it comes to time, we’ve all attended meetings where some people come early, others come late and a few who actually come right on time.  Regardless of when people arrive, the meeting begins anyway, the work gets done, maybe not as well, but we all go home, all at the same time.

For those who are pregnant, time is measured in a different way.  Time is talked about in terms of weeks and months.  Some deliver early, some deliver late, but the good news is that they deliver SOME-time.  This past week, Megan was early in the delivery of their second son.  That made Megan happy.  He’s beautiful and we’d have waited a long time to meet and hold him. 

Sometimes, time tricks us.  Last week, a few of you were really early for worship – but only because you forgot to set your clocks back an hour.  Thankfully we’ve had a week now to adjust as daylight savings helps us see better in the morning.

And finally, time is sometimes given as a gift, a gift for the amendment of life, a gift to celebrate, a gracious opportunity to change, improve, and otherwise amend our life for the better.

In today’s gospel reading, we are given time as a gift.  Time is referenced in the following way: “…the groom was late arriving.”  (Matthew 25:5a CEV)  “The groom was late.” 

In this parable, the bridegroom is Christ.  And thankfully, Jesus has yet to return.  In other words, because the bridegroom is late, we have time, time to change, time to improve, time to otherwise amend our life for the better.

I’m guessing that when you heard this gospel reading, you felt, along with me and all the others sitting next to you in the pew, that this reading for today is hardly gospel, hardly good news at all.

Ten girls were invited to a wedding.  And because this was before electricity had been invented, guests had to bring their own lanterns.  All ten brought enough oil for their lamps to stay lit the entire night, or so they thought, but because the bridegroom was late in arriving at the wedding, five of the girls’ lamps ran out of oil. 

When they went to buy more oil at the local store, the bridegroom finally showed up, the door was shut, and they were not allowed into the reception – all because the bridegroom was late!  Doesn’t seem fair, or right, and certainly not good news.

The ten girls were prepared for a typical wedding.  They were prepared for the normal course of events.  They prepared for what would be a regular wedding and a regular reception that followed. 

But, the circumstances were not regular.  The events were outside of the norm.  The bridegroom was late.  And the five foolish girls ran out of oil for their lamps.

Jesus told this parable to tell us, “Life isn’t normal.  Life doesn’t happen the way we plan it.  There will be an end of this world, whether we are ready for it or not.  So, while there is time, get ready, stay ready, be watchful for the days when life comes at you fast. 

With this election, I have read there will be a lot of “FOR SALE” signs going up around Washington, DC.  I guess this happens each time there is a change in the office of president, and particularly when there is a large scale change in leadership as it seems took place this past week.   For those who will be moving out, and for those who will be moving in, this is clearly a time to get ready, stay ready, and be watchful for the days when life comes at you fast.

From the perspective of Jesus, his purpose in telling this story was to say, “I am the bridegroom and I’m late.  And, I’m going to continue to be late until the day and the time I choose to arrive.  I am giving you time, time to get ready, time to stay ready, time to be watchful, and time for the amendment of your life.”

Carl Sandberg once wrote these now famous words about the birth of a baby, “A baby is God’s opinion that life should go on.”  Each and every time a baby is born, more time, more life is given to us to make it better, to make life what God intended from the very beginning.

Time can be measured in terms of hours and minutes on a clock.  Time can also be construed as a constraint to our lives.  Or, time can be measured in terms of the opportunities we are given to love, to serve, to pray, to read the Holy Word of God, and to be the children of God we have been called to be in our baptism.

So, the bridegroom in our gospel story was late.  He’s still late.  And, he’s going to remain being late until that day he decides to arrive on the scene. 

Until then, we have time.  We have the grace and gift of time. We have time to celebrate, and time to change, improve, and otherwise amend our life for the better.  And that’s good news.   AMEN

Text:  1 John 3:1-3
2 November 2008
Topic:  We Are…..God’s Children!

With the Philadelphia Phillies having won the World Series, and with Penn State on the verge of an undefeated season, I am going to borrow from the sports world and get us to cheer a little bit.  From the very familiar, “GO PHILLIES,” to “WE ARE….PENN STATE,” I am asking us to do a little cheer and celebrate our status as children of God. 

In the second reading for today, from John’s first letter, we have these words, “My dear friends, we are … God’s children.”  (1 John 3:2a CEV)  I’d like us to celebrate our amazing status as children of God by parroting the Penn State cheer.  Please join me.  “WE ARE…..GOD’S CHILDREN!!”  Again.  “WE ARE….GOD’S CHILDREN!!”

It’s a little silly to cheer about being God’s children, but, if it draws us closer to God, and closer to one another, we should do it.  It works at Citizens Bank Park, and it works at Beaver Stadium.  I think it can work in church as well.

But, do we really know what it means?  Do we really understand the ramifications of such a cheer?  Do have the confidence to live each day as a child of God?  Do we have an unshakeable belief in the future that comes with the affirmation of being one of God’s children? 

This morning we witnessed the baptisms of five children, Lance, Kyla, Blake, Julian, and Presley.  They were announced to the world as children of God.  The love of God was poured out upon these children in the waters of baptism and, along with them, and for them, we can proclaim, “WE ARE….GOD’S CHILDREN!!”

We begin our life as God’s children in the waters of baptism.  We are stamped as forever forgiven, forever blessed, and forever in the arms of a loving God.  That presence and that power begins at baptism and carries us into eternity.

Today, on All Saints Sunday, we are remembering 19 people from our congregation who died this past year.  As everyone knows, funerals are a difficult time in people’s lives.  Loved ones die too suddenly, too quickly, and it’s never easy, even when it’s expected. 

When someone dies, our faith is tested.  Our faith is challenged.  But, sometimes, our faith is renewed. 

In the 30 years of my ministry, I have presided at a whole lot of funerals.  And each time someone dies, I have had to look deeply into my faith to see what God might be saying to me at that particular time, and for that particular family.

Without fail, the challenges I have seen in death are met every time with the confident assurance from a loving God who reminds me “I AM A CHILD OF GOD.”  And, “THE DECEASED IS A CHILD OF GOD.” 

When I remember and realize that all of us are children of God, my fears are put to rest, my anxiety is laid aside, and I am able to proclaim the gospel message of the resurrection.  To be a baptized child of God means we are forever forgiven, forever blessed, and forever in the arms of a loving God.

Over a million people lined the streets of Philadelphia on Friday for the parade down Broad Street as the whole region celebrated the victory by the Phillies in the World Series.  It was an amazing sight to see.  I wasn’t there personally.  But, on TV, all you could see were the faces of ecstatic Phillies fans. The energy from the crowd came right into living rooms all across our region as together we celebrated that long awaited championship.

Energy like that is contagious.  Energy like that is born from time and energy spent on reading about and watching and talking about what’s going on with the team.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could duplicate some of that Philly energy, right here in church?  Wouldn’t it be great if we got up each and every day and shouted to the world, “I AM A CHILD OF GOD!”  And wouldn’t it be great if we came here each and every week with great anticipation, looking to greet and meet all the other “CHILDREN OF GOD” and joyously gather with them at the Table of the Lord?   And wouldn’t it be great if people longed to read and study God’s Word together?

The good news is that it happens all the time.  There are people among us who get up each morning and thank God they are alive.  There are people among us who truly celebrate their heritage as “CHILDREN OF GOD,” and come here each week to greet and meet their fellow saints.  And there are people who regularly and readily study God’s Holy Word.

And when that happens, when we wake up and celebrate our wonderful status as a child of God, we have all it takes to live.  We have all it takes to face the challenges of each day. 

John wrote to Christians almost 2000 years ago words that are still true today.  He said, “My dear friends, we are already God’s children, though what we will be hasn’t yet been seen.  But [this much we know] that when Christ returns, we will be like him, and we will see him as he truly is.”  (1 John 3:2 CEV)

WOW!  Someday, at the second coming of Christ, we are going to become just like Christ.  Now, that’s some REALLY GOOD NEWS. 

From the very beginning of time, before the world was ever made, Jesus Christ was with God, was in God, and was God.  And when Christ returns, we are going to become just like him.  That’s a promise!  That’s a solid hope on which we can base our entire lives.  And that’s something worth shouting about, “WE ARE…..GOD’S CHILDREN!”

As the writer of the second lesson said, knowing we are God’s children “…is a hope that helps keep us holy, just as Christ is holy.”  (1 John 3:3  CEV)   For when we truly believe we are forever forgiven, forever blessed, and forever in the arms of a loving God, we will want others to know it too.  

“WE ARE…..GOD’S CHILDREN.” It’s a holy thing to be.  It’s a holy thing to hold on to.  It’s a holy thing to live by. 

God bless you, children of God, saints of God!   AMEN