11/13/2011 ~ Proper 28 ~ The Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost ~ Judges 4:1-7; Psalm 123; Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18; Psalm 90:1-8, (9-11), 12; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30 ~ Enlistment/Stewardship Sunday.
“Therefore, encourage one another and build up each other, as, indeed, you are already doing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11.
I need to start my comments today in a bit of an unusual way. As you can see, there is a basket up front. In that basket are what the Prayer Shawl Ministry Group calls Pocket Prayer Shawls— small crocheted squares in a cacophony of colors.
I’d like to invite everyone, each individual, to come forward and get a Pocket Prayer Shawl. It’s yours to keep. If you would rather I bring some to you from which you can choose, I can do that. I’ve got a separate basket. So, please come forward and get a Prayer Shawl— a Pocket Prayer Shawl. (Pause, while this happens.)
So, what are prayer shawls? Some of these words are taken from the folder which describes the Prayer Shawl Ministry in this church.
In 1997 Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo graduated from the Women’s Leadership Institute at Hartford Seminary in Connecticut. They started an outreach ministry with knitters and others who make crafts, a ministry people all over America then took up.
Shawls, as I am sure you’re aware, have been made for centuries around the world. The shawls and other crafts created by people participating in this ministry are created in and with prayer. Doing this work also brings to mind a truth: God empowers us to create and God empowers us to give.
Since the people involved are focused in this way, with an understanding that God is central to the enterprise, the making of the shawls— to concentrate just on shawls— is both a universal action and an action which embraces each individual blessed by the ministry.
Indeed, the making of shawls and the distribution of them is symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving God. So, God blesses those who create and give.
And the finished products, whatever they may be, are meant to beautifully comfort, wrap, enfold, cover, give solace, nurture, hug and shelter. Therefore, God blesses those who receive.
The intent is that those who give the works remember why they are doing this work and Who is the prime giver. The intent is that those who receive the works remember these have been given with the kindness and the generosity of spirit God intends. Last, these items are a way of remembering our connectivity to one another. (Slight pause.)
Clearly, a prayer shawl ministry is a ministry of not just of this church but many churches. So, I’d like to talk about churches for a moment. (Slight pause.)
There is no question about this: local churches are in a very, very basic way, grass roots organizations. This is especially true in the denomination known as the United Church of Christ because in our structure there is no hierarchy. There are no bishops telling us what to do or defining who we are. Those of us in the Congregational tradition are, by definition, involved in a grass roots organization.
Put differently, the basic structure in the United Church of Christ is the local church. If for no other reason, that means our connectivity to one another on this local level and then moving out from this local level, this feeling of first being grass roots and then moving further is of great and paramount importance.
So, how do we support one another? How are we in covenant with one another? How are we grass roots? (Slight pause.)
You may be aware that there are three written histories of this church. The first one, published in 1879, contains the By-laws of the Church current then and names the officers in that structure.
So, what do the By-laws indicate it meant, indicate what we did, to be in covenant with each other then? (Slight pause.) In this document, the town is divided into four quadrants. Deacons were assigned to these areas, these quadrants. The well being of each soul living in these quadrants (member or not) was the responsibility of those deacons.
To be clear: this was not simply an assignment to look after spiritual needs. This also meant being aware of the physical needs of people, both members and non-members alike. Today, we would probably call that the work of outreach— outreach both to members and non-members. In short, what the By-laws laid out then meant being connected to one another as members of the church and being connected to one another as members of the human race, being connected to one another as children of God. The By-laws say that was important.
Are we organized in a different way today? Yes. But the work of outreach is still here and the work of outreach is still the same. In short, it still means being connected to one another as members of the church and being connected to one another as members of the human race, being connected to one another as children of God. (Slight pause.)
I think I need to offer a definition. What is outreach? Outreach is simply this: kindness. Indeed, let me ask: is not kindness the first measure of faith? Is not kindness the first measure of faith? (Slight pause.)
I have a friend who has been a college teacher his entire professional life in the New York City area. But he grew up in Rome, New York.
At his request to me this church has been sending his elderly aunt, who still lives in Rome, our newsletter. He recently asked me if we would be so kind as to change the address to which we send the newsletter, since he has had to move her to a nursing facility.
His e-mail with that request says she has (quote): “...immensely enjoyed your mailings. She especially likes the little stories and anecdotes and feels pride in having not only shared some of them with her minister in this region but also being informed by him that he’s used some of them in his own sermons.” (Slight pause.)
Doing that, sending that newsletter, is just a small kindness. But it means something to someone.
This church was doing a kindness in sending the Newsletter to my friend’s aunt. But most of us did not know we were doing that. Being connective sometimes means something to someone, even when we don’t know it’s happening, even when our understanding of what is happening is not direct. (Slight pause.)
So, why did I want to help the Prayer Shawl Ministry give out Pocket Prayer Shawls today? This might be an obvious question. (Slight pause.) They are meant to be a reminder that for us, for this church, doing outreach means being connective, being kind.
So let me suggest that you take your pocket prayer shawl and put it in your pocket or on your desk or on your night-stand, or even use a magnet to attach it to your refrigerator door. Put it someplace where you will see it and be able to touch it regularly, feel its texture.
Let it be a tactile point of reference for your memory. I want to suggest if you put it in an obvious, accessible place, it will be a reminder that connectivity is central to our lives as Christians and that kindness is central to our lives as Christians. (Slight pause.)
So, what does all this have to do with the fact that this is our Stewardship Sunday, our Enlistment Sunday? (Slight pause.) Paul tells us to (quote): “...encourage one another and build up each other...” (Slight pause.)
Outreach is connectivity and kindness and faithfulness all wrapped up into one. It is a part of building up each other. Clearly not all of what we do but certainly a good portion of what we do, together, as a church, in connectivity with one another, is empowered a pledge.
And pledging is not meant simply to be a place where we give away money— write a check and forget about what that means or what that has the potential to do. Pledging is meant as a sign that we stand in solidarity— in solidarity with everyone in this church, in solidarity with everyone in this town, with everyone in this state, with everyone on this planet. (Slight pause.)
You see, solidarity in our connectivity and in our kindness and in our faithfulness to the Word of God is the place to which God calls humanity. So, in solidarity and in connectivity and in kindness we are called to encourage one another and build up each other. Building each other up— that, that is real stewardship. (Slight pause.)
I am sure you have heard me say this way too often. The basic message is: “Love God. Love neighbor.” Easy right? Well, yes. If we connect with people. If we are kind. If we are faithful. Amen.
11/13/2011
United Church of Christ, First Congregational, Norwich, NY
ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the Choral Response and Benediction. This is an précis of what was said: “The words of the second verse in the closing hymn say this: ‘Teach us, O God, Your lessons, / as in our daily life / we struggle to be human / and search for hope and faith. / Teach us to care for people, / for all, not just for some, / to love them as we find them, / or as they may become’ (Slight pause.) It has been said that the ancient Hebrews did not have a theology. They did theology. I think that is the call to Congregational Churches. We do theology.”
BENEDICTION: A kind and just God sends us out into the world as bearers of truth which surpasses our understanding. God watches over those who respond in love. So, let us love God so much, that we love nothing else too much. Let us be in awe of no one else and nothing else because we are so in awe of God. Amen.
Building
“Therefore, encourage one another and build up each other, as, indeed, you are already doing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11.
I need to start my comments today in a bit of an unusual way. As you can see, there is a basket up front. In that basket are what the Prayer Shawl Ministry Group calls Pocket Prayer Shawls— small crocheted squares in a cacophony of colors.
I’d like to invite everyone, each individual, to come forward and get a Pocket Prayer Shawl. It’s yours to keep. If you would rather I bring some to you from which you can choose, I can do that. I’ve got a separate basket. So, please come forward and get a Prayer Shawl— a Pocket Prayer Shawl. (Pause, while this happens.)
So, what are prayer shawls? Some of these words are taken from the folder which describes the Prayer Shawl Ministry in this church.
In 1997 Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo graduated from the Women’s Leadership Institute at Hartford Seminary in Connecticut. They started an outreach ministry with knitters and others who make crafts, a ministry people all over America then took up.
Shawls, as I am sure you’re aware, have been made for centuries around the world. The shawls and other crafts created by people participating in this ministry are created in and with prayer. Doing this work also brings to mind a truth: God empowers us to create and God empowers us to give.
Since the people involved are focused in this way, with an understanding that God is central to the enterprise, the making of the shawls— to concentrate just on shawls— is both a universal action and an action which embraces each individual blessed by the ministry.
Indeed, the making of shawls and the distribution of them is symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving God. So, God blesses those who create and give.
And the finished products, whatever they may be, are meant to beautifully comfort, wrap, enfold, cover, give solace, nurture, hug and shelter. Therefore, God blesses those who receive.
The intent is that those who give the works remember why they are doing this work and Who is the prime giver. The intent is that those who receive the works remember these have been given with the kindness and the generosity of spirit God intends. Last, these items are a way of remembering our connectivity to one another. (Slight pause.)
Clearly, a prayer shawl ministry is a ministry of not just of this church but many churches. So, I’d like to talk about churches for a moment. (Slight pause.)
There is no question about this: local churches are in a very, very basic way, grass roots organizations. This is especially true in the denomination known as the United Church of Christ because in our structure there is no hierarchy. There are no bishops telling us what to do or defining who we are. Those of us in the Congregational tradition are, by definition, involved in a grass roots organization.
Put differently, the basic structure in the United Church of Christ is the local church. If for no other reason, that means our connectivity to one another on this local level and then moving out from this local level, this feeling of first being grass roots and then moving further is of great and paramount importance.
So, how do we support one another? How are we in covenant with one another? How are we grass roots? (Slight pause.)
You may be aware that there are three written histories of this church. The first one, published in 1879, contains the By-laws of the Church current then and names the officers in that structure.
So, what do the By-laws indicate it meant, indicate what we did, to be in covenant with each other then? (Slight pause.) In this document, the town is divided into four quadrants. Deacons were assigned to these areas, these quadrants. The well being of each soul living in these quadrants (member or not) was the responsibility of those deacons.
To be clear: this was not simply an assignment to look after spiritual needs. This also meant being aware of the physical needs of people, both members and non-members alike. Today, we would probably call that the work of outreach— outreach both to members and non-members. In short, what the By-laws laid out then meant being connected to one another as members of the church and being connected to one another as members of the human race, being connected to one another as children of God. The By-laws say that was important.
Are we organized in a different way today? Yes. But the work of outreach is still here and the work of outreach is still the same. In short, it still means being connected to one another as members of the church and being connected to one another as members of the human race, being connected to one another as children of God. (Slight pause.)
I think I need to offer a definition. What is outreach? Outreach is simply this: kindness. Indeed, let me ask: is not kindness the first measure of faith? Is not kindness the first measure of faith? (Slight pause.)
I have a friend who has been a college teacher his entire professional life in the New York City area. But he grew up in Rome, New York.
At his request to me this church has been sending his elderly aunt, who still lives in Rome, our newsletter. He recently asked me if we would be so kind as to change the address to which we send the newsletter, since he has had to move her to a nursing facility.
His e-mail with that request says she has (quote): “...immensely enjoyed your mailings. She especially likes the little stories and anecdotes and feels pride in having not only shared some of them with her minister in this region but also being informed by him that he’s used some of them in his own sermons.” (Slight pause.)
Doing that, sending that newsletter, is just a small kindness. But it means something to someone.
This church was doing a kindness in sending the Newsletter to my friend’s aunt. But most of us did not know we were doing that. Being connective sometimes means something to someone, even when we don’t know it’s happening, even when our understanding of what is happening is not direct. (Slight pause.)
So, why did I want to help the Prayer Shawl Ministry give out Pocket Prayer Shawls today? This might be an obvious question. (Slight pause.) They are meant to be a reminder that for us, for this church, doing outreach means being connective, being kind.
So let me suggest that you take your pocket prayer shawl and put it in your pocket or on your desk or on your night-stand, or even use a magnet to attach it to your refrigerator door. Put it someplace where you will see it and be able to touch it regularly, feel its texture.
Let it be a tactile point of reference for your memory. I want to suggest if you put it in an obvious, accessible place, it will be a reminder that connectivity is central to our lives as Christians and that kindness is central to our lives as Christians. (Slight pause.)
So, what does all this have to do with the fact that this is our Stewardship Sunday, our Enlistment Sunday? (Slight pause.) Paul tells us to (quote): “...encourage one another and build up each other...” (Slight pause.)
Outreach is connectivity and kindness and faithfulness all wrapped up into one. It is a part of building up each other. Clearly not all of what we do but certainly a good portion of what we do, together, as a church, in connectivity with one another, is empowered a pledge.
And pledging is not meant simply to be a place where we give away money— write a check and forget about what that means or what that has the potential to do. Pledging is meant as a sign that we stand in solidarity— in solidarity with everyone in this church, in solidarity with everyone in this town, with everyone in this state, with everyone on this planet. (Slight pause.)
You see, solidarity in our connectivity and in our kindness and in our faithfulness to the Word of God is the place to which God calls humanity. So, in solidarity and in connectivity and in kindness we are called to encourage one another and build up each other. Building each other up— that, that is real stewardship. (Slight pause.)
I am sure you have heard me say this way too often. The basic message is: “Love God. Love neighbor.” Easy right? Well, yes. If we connect with people. If we are kind. If we are faithful. Amen.
11/13/2011
United Church of Christ, First Congregational, Norwich, NY
ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the Choral Response and Benediction. This is an précis of what was said: “The words of the second verse in the closing hymn say this: ‘Teach us, O God, Your lessons, / as in our daily life / we struggle to be human / and search for hope and faith. / Teach us to care for people, / for all, not just for some, / to love them as we find them, / or as they may become’ (Slight pause.) It has been said that the ancient Hebrews did not have a theology. They did theology. I think that is the call to Congregational Churches. We do theology.”
BENEDICTION: A kind and just God sends us out into the world as bearers of truth which surpasses our understanding. God watches over those who respond in love. So, let us love God so much, that we love nothing else too much. Let us be in awe of no one else and nothing else because we are so in awe of God. Amen.
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