Message to Trinity -- Souder Funeral, Church Business Meeting, Greening the Church

 

Greetings Trinity Family,

I hope this email finds everyone doing well. We have many up-coming activities at Trinity…please check out what we have going on.

Thank you to everyone who came over on Election Day to say hi or to stay and visit with our neighbors. We made many connections with our neighbors on Tuesday.

Our Pulled Pork supper last weekend was a huge success! We raised over $3000. Thank you to all of our cooks and volunteers. We couldn’t do anything without each other.  As a bonus, the food was delicious!

DONALD SOUDER FUNERAL

Our brother in Christ, Donald Souder, passed away on Wednesday after a lengthy illness.   We will gather to remember Don and support his wife Marie on Saturday, November 13.   There will be a visitation in our church narthex starting at 11 am. The funeral service will be at 12:30 in our Sanctuary. A lunch will follow in our Education Building. Please join us to remember a dear man and support his family.

MEN’S BREAKFAST – CANCELLED IN NOVEMBER

We usually have our monthly men’s breakfast on the second Saturday of the month. This month, the breakfast is cancelled because of the many people who will be attending the funeral service for Don Souder.

In December, we will have our Men’s Breakfast on December 10 at 8:30 am.  All men are invited to join us.

TRINITY VETERAN’S SERVICE

Our annual observance of our Veterans will be on Sunday, November 13. We will appreciate our Veterans during our Sunday morning service at 10:15. At 2 pm, we will gather in our Cemetery for an opportunity to praise God, appreciate our Veterans, and remember those who have passed on. Our 2 pm gathering will be followed by a reception in our Education Building.

TRINITY ANNUAL BUDGET MEETING

Our Narrative budget was shared with our congregation this morning by Deb Clewell in the church office.  Our annual meeting to approve our budget will be held after our worship service on Sunday, November 20.  OUR MEETING WILL BE IN-PERSON AND WE WILL NOT STREAM IT ON FACEBOOK.

GREENING THE CHURCH

Everyone is invited to help us “green” our church for the Advent and Christmas season on Saturday, November 26. We will gather at 9 am. Come one and come all.

LIGHTING THE CHURCH

We have worked to expand our seasonal lights for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. We will decorate the exterior of our buildings and properties after worship on Sunday, November 27.

CHRISTMAS CAROLING AND TRINITY OPEN HOUSE

We will gather to sing Christmas Carols in the Village of Skippack on the evening of December 9 at 6 pm.  Afterwards, we will gather for cookies and hot chocolate. More details to follow.

CHRISTMAS CANTATA

Our Choir and Christmas Singers are delighted to present their 2022 Christmas Cantata on Sunday, December 18 at our 10:15 Worship service. Please invite your family, friends and neighbors to experience the Christmas story set to beautiful music.

BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE

We will gather for our annual Blue Christmas service on Thursday, the 22^nd of December. This is a service for those who are struggling with the Christmas season – those who are grieving, those who are sad, and those who are lonely. We will gather to pray, to mourn, and to battle the forces of darkness…together.

CHOIR REHEARSALS

Everyone in 7^th grade and up is welcome to join Trinity’s choir. We will rehearse every Wednesday at 7 pm. Ralien and our Worship Committee are excited about all of the upcoming music we will sing as we worship God together.

CHURCH CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS TEAM

If anyone is interested in joining a team to review the church’s Constitution and By-laws, please see either Bill Vogl or Pastor Amelie.

DAILY BREAD COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY

We continue to collect food and toiletry items for the Daily Bread Food Pantry.  They can be left at the doors of the church or in the baskets next to the sanctuary doors.

The Daily Bread's Current needs change every few weeks. This is their latest list of needs:

Personal Care (which cannot be purchased with food stamps):

Laundry soap, children's toothbrushes/ toothpaste, tissues, dish soap, DEORDORANT, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, paper towels

Food:

            Stuffing, canned peas, baked beans, canned pasta, pancake mix & syrup, canned tomatoes, cream soups

Baby Care:

Diapers

Pet Care:

Dry cat food, Litter, canned dog food

WORSHIP SERVICES

On Sunday mornings, you are invited to join us in-person and on Facebook:

Join us for our Sunday morning hymn sing at 9:45 am and our 10:15 Worship. 

If you are watching from home, you can find us at our "Trinity Christian UCC Skippack" facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/TrinityUCCSkippack

SUNDAY BIBLE  STUDY – Now AT 8:30

We have a Sunday morning Bible Study in-person and on ZOOM at 8:30. Here is the link to log in:

Amelie Sell is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Trinity's Wired Word Discussion Group
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/76933813590?pwd=Nzc0MkthZFBkdmVNTGYycjVtRXkwUT09

Meeting ID: 769 3381 3590
Password: 7qLSWw

LUNCH BUNCH MEETS WEEKLY!

Lunch Bunch is our Tuesday afternoon Bible Study.  Everyone is invited to join us on Tuesdays at 12 pm.  Please bring your own lunch. (In the past, we had a potluck lunch, but for now each person will bring their own food.)  Lunch Bunch typically studies the portion of the Bible that will be the focus of our worship service on the upcoming Sunday. 

TRINITY BLOG

Trinity now has a blog where I am posting notes to the congregation and the text of my sermons.  If you would like to read these notes and messages, you can find them at: www.trinityskippack.blogspot.com

I will see you in worship on Sunday!

Many blessings!!

Pastor Amelie

 

Hold On to Faith -- A Message for November 6, 2022

 

    Over the past few Sundays, we have been working our way through a series of snippets from the Gospel of Luke. We heard a parable about a Pharisee and a Tax collector. Last week, we heard the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector and how he changed his life for the better after he met Jesus.

This week, we follow with a story from the next chapter in Luke. We are approaching Luke’s account of Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion.  Before Jesus’ arrest, the temple authorities and Sadducees were seeking ways to trick Jesus into saying or doing something that would be grounds for his arrest. In today’s account, the Sadducees laid out an elaborate question for Jesus designed to get him to say something heretical or scandalous. Hear the account of their question and Jesus’ answer as it is recorded in Luke, chapter 20, verses twenty-seven through thirty-eight:

Proclamation of the Scripture                        Luke 20: 27-38       

Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 

“Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 

Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 

The second and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 

Finally, the woman died too. 

Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 

But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 

and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 

But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’

He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” 

And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Here ends this reading of the Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Let us pray:  May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of hearts be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

            Jesus poised a problem to the leaders in Jerusalem. He was too popular. People clamored to see him everywhere he went. Crowds of people followed him from town to town. He performed miracles – healed the sick, expelled demons, restored sight to the blind, raised the dead. And, he didn’t conform to the theology of the wealthy leaders of the Temple, priests of the Sadducee branch of Judaism. They made compromises and concessions with the Roman’s in order to maintain their power and wealth.  And, Jesus was not interested in appeasing the Romans or helping the powerful maintain their power. So, Jesus poised a problem for the Sadducees and the Temple Authorities. They wanted to get Jesus out of the way.

            Before his arrest, there were several occasions when the Sadducees tried to trick Jesus into saying something that would be considered blasphemy.  Unlike the Pharisee branch of Judaism, the Sadducees didn’t believe that people would be resurrected in the afterlife. So, when they approached Jesus with a rambling rhetorical question about a woman which several husbands who she would be married to in the afterlife, they were waiting to pounce on Jesus for saying something wrong.

            Instead, Jesus told the Sadducees who asked the question, and the rest of the people listening to his answer that what happens in the afterlife is so entirely different than what happens in this life that we don’t have to worry about marriage after we die. Marriage is an earthly concern – when this life is over and we have moved on to the next, our earthly concerns will melt away.

            With an answer like that, Jesus didn’t get into trouble. The Sadducees had to bide their time and come up with a different way to entrap Jesus and get him arrested – they unfortunately succeeded, causing the death of Jesus, which led to the resurrection of Jesus, which was a fortunate event for us and all humanity.

            Human beings are experts at being unkind and hurting each other. Every middle school student in this room, and everyone who has ever been a middle school student, can tell tales of strange conniving choices people made that ultimately backfired on them. Every episode of Days of Our Lives or General Hospital has people plotting against one another and then their plans turning on their head.  The Sadducees were being self-centered and plotting against Jesus. Yet, God is good, and justice prevails, and in the Easter resurrection Goodness prevailed over evil. Even death couldn’t keep Jesus down.

            Although the tendency to cause harm to others, and to be cruel, is something we have corral within ourselves, Jesus shows us a different way. We are followers of Jesus and we must work to be like Jesus. Instead of being a jerk like the Sadducees who came to trap Jesus, Jesus chose to be kind and thoughtful in his response to them. Instead of harnessing the power of heaven and earth, and trampling down his persecutors, Jesus chose to allow them to crucify him. Jesus resisted the human-impulse to respond to cruelty with cruelty, and hate with hate. Instead, Jesus told us to love our enemies, to bless those who curse us, and to pray for those who persecute us.

            So, my friends, we must work to be like Jesus: To respond to hate with love. To respond to curses with blessings. To respond to our own persecution with prayers for our enemies. We are followers of the God of grace and love, and we are called to respond in kind.

            May we do so with joy! Amen.  

Transforming Love -- A Message for October 30, 2022

 

    Last Sunday, Amey graciously led our worship service. She read to us the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector – a Pharisee gloated smugly to God as he prayed and said he was thankful he wasn’t a bad guy like the Tax Collector. The tax collector prayed to God and asked God to have mercy on him, a sinner. Jesus praised the humble prayer of the tax collector, not the prideful prayer of the Pharisee.

            This Sunday, we turn to the next chapter in the book of Luke.  We read another story about a tax collector, albeit, the one in today’s story was a real person, not the subject of a parable. Please turn to Luke chapter 19 and read with me the favorite story of Zacchaeus climbing the sycamore tree to see Jesus:

Scripture – Luke 19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.

A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.

He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.

So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Here ends this reading of the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Let us pray – May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

            Whenever I think of this story of Zacchaeus, his song starts running through my head…..the preschool song about the “wee little man” who climbed up in the Sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see. This is one of those little stories where we can all remember what happened because we have the rhyme-y poem to remind us the details.

            We remember the song because when we sing it we are also wee-little people, and we are happy to hear that Jesus’ notices people who aren’t necessarily tall and strong and powerful. But, what is remarkable about this story is that in reality, Zacchaeus had power and wealth, just not height. And, Zacchaeus was so inspired by Jesus that he changed his perspective and life after he met Jesus.

            Tax-Collectors were widely hated by 1^st Century Israelis. Even 21^st Century Americans don’t feel warm and fuzzy about IRS investigators. Tax collectors in Israel worked for the oppressive Roman government who conquered their land. And, they defrauded the people, their fellow-Jewish people, to enrich themselves. They added to the taxes imposed upon their subjects and filled their personal coffers.

            Yet, they sometimes had a conscious. Last week, the tax-collector in Jesus’ parable had an awareness that they were a sinful person in need of grace. Zacchaeus had risen the ranks of tax collectors to become the “chief” of all collectors. He was very wealthy. And he was very curious about Jesus. Can you imagine a wealthy, middle-aged man with a high status in his community climbing a tree in order to see a religious figure walking by? We rarely see adults climb trees unless they are tree-trimmers! Yet, Zacchaeus did something potentially embarrassing and dangerous in order to see Jesus walk past.

            Jesus noticed Zacchaeus in the tree. And, Jesus ordered Zacchaeus to come down and host Jesus at his home. Jesus saw a man who was hated by his neighbors and instead of glaring at him with decision, Jesus invited himself over to his home.  Zacchaeus’ experience with Jesus inspired him to turn over a new leaf. Zacchaeus pledged to give half of his possessions to the poor and to return four times the money to the people he had defrauded.

            People can change. Zacchaeus was a man with wealth and power, and yet when he met Jesus, he changed. Sometimes, we feel like we are unable to change – we come up with excuses – I’m too comfortable…I’m scared…I’m old…I’m not adventurous….we come up with excuses. But, in reality we are all capable of changing, and the people around us are also capable of changing too.

            When Zacchaeus met Jesus, he changed for the better. He decided to give away his money and possessions to people who were struggling. He repented for his past unethical fraudulent choices and he returned money to the people he had harmed. When he decided to share his wealth, Jesus said that salvation came to Zacchaeus’ house.

            Our society tells us that we are better off when we have “more.” More money, more resources, more stuff. Amazon has had annoying ads lately telling us to buy more stuff from them. As long as the stuff keeps streaming into our homes, we will be happy.

            But, we know this isn’t real…Our happiness is not correlated with the more we have.  Instead, like Zacchaeus, we may become happier when we give away our money and our stuff and help other people. Our faith in Christianity emphasizes that true happiness, true satisfaction, lies in having a relationship with God. Our faith reassures us that God accepts us as we are, loves us despite our flaws and wants us to serve God by serving others. The point of this life isn’t “he who has the most toys wins,” but is instead that we are called to love and serve God and love and care for other people.

            Zacchaeus met Jesus and was inspired to return the money he stole and give away half of all that he had to the poor. The more we get to know Jesus, and the ore we deepen our faith in God, we will also save our lives. We are compelled to be generous and treat other fairly because we are in relationship with the God of grace, justice, and generosity. Let us remember that the source of our salvation is God alone.

            Amen. 

Message to Trinity -- Pulled Pork, Election Day, Souder Service, Veteran's Remembrance

 

Greetings Trinity Family,

I hope this email finds everyone doing well. The church smells delicious as our volunteers are preparing for tomorrow’s pulled pork supper. And, the weather is just beautiful today. We are blessed.

PULLED PORK– TOMORROW!!

I hope to see everyone tomorrow!!

We can still use volunteers. People are gathering here at the church starting at 10 am to help pack our food orders into containers. We are serving the meal between 4 and 7 pm.

Our menu will include pulled pork, bbq sauce, a roll, creamy mac and cheese, coleslaw, applesauce, baked beans, and a giant cookie.  We are charging $18 a meal and the meals are very generous portions – they usually have enough for two meals.

Although we have been taking pre-orders, we still have a few meals left. We will sell them first come, first serve tomorrow at 4 pm.

ELECTION DAY COFFEE, COOKIES AND PRAYERS

Election Day is on Tuesday, November 8. We are going to minister to our neighbors by sharing coffee, cookies, and prayers with them. If you have a few hours to help, please join us on the church “porch.” In the past, our neighbors have wanted to check out our sanctuary, visit, and learn more about our community.

DONALD SOUDER FUNERAL

Our brother in Christ, Donald Souder, passed away on Wednesday after a lengthy illness.   We will gather to remember Don and support his wife Marie on Saturday, November 13.   There will be a visitation in our church narthex starting at 11 am. The funeral service will be at 12:30 in our Sanctuary. A lunch will follow in our Education Building. Please join us to remember a dear man and support his family.

MEN’S BREAKFAST – CANCELLED IN NOVEMBER

We usually have our monthly men’s breakfast on the second Saturday of the month. This month, the breakfast is cancelled because of the many people who will be attending the funeral service for Don Souder.

TRINITY VETERAN’S SERVICE

Our annual observance of our Veterans will be on Sunday, November 13. We will appreciate our Veterans during our Sunday morning service at 10:15. At 2 pm, we will gather in our Cemetery for an opportunity to praise God, appreciate our Veterans, and remember those who have passed on. Our 2 pm gathering will be followed by a reception in our Education Building.

TRINITY ANNUAL BUDGET MEETING

Our Narrative budget was shared with our congregation this morning by Deb Clewell in the church office.  Our annual meeting to approve our budget will be held after our worship service on Sunday, November 20.

GREENING THE CHURCH

Everyone is invited to help us “green” our church for the Advent and Christmas season on Saturday, November 26. We will gather at 9 am. Come one and come all.

LIGHTING THE CHURCH

We have worked to expand our seasonal lights for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. We will decorate the exterior of our buildings and properties after worship on Sunday, November 27.

CHRISTMAS CAROLING AND TRINITY OPEN HOUSE

We will gather to sing Christmas Carols in the Village of Skippack on the evening of December 9 at 6 pm.  Afterwards, we will gather for cookies and hot chocolate. More details to follow.

CHRISTMAS CANTATA

Our Choir and Christmas Singers are delighted to present their 2022 Christmas Cantata on Sunday, December 18 at our 10:15 Worship service. Please invite your family, friends and neighbors to experience the Christmas story set to beautiful music.

BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE

We will gather for our annual Blue Christmas service on Thursday, the 22^nd of December. This is a service for those who are struggling with the Christmas season – those who are grieving, those who are sad, and those who are lonely. We will gather to pray, to mourn, and to battle the forces of darkness…together.

CHOIR REHEARSALS

Everyone in 7^th grade and up is welcome to join Trinity’s choir. We will rehearse every Wednesday at 7 pm. Ralien and our Worship Committee are excited about all of the upcoming music we will sing as we worship God together.

CHURCH CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS TEAM

If anyone is interested in joining a team to review the church’s Constitution and By-laws, please see either Bill Vogl or Pastor Amelie.

DAILY BREAD COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY

We continue to collect food and toiletry items for the Daily Bread Food Pantry.  They can be left at the doors of the church or in the baskets next to the sanctuary doors.

The Daily Bread's Current needs change every few weeks. This is their latest list of needs:

Personal Care (which cannot be purchased with food stamps):

Laundry soap, children's toothbrushes/ toothpaste, tissues, dish soap, DEORDORANT, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, paper towels

Food:

            jelly/jam, pancake mix & syrup, canned pasta, creamed soups, canned peas baked beans, oatmeal, gravy, pretzels & chips, cake mix & frosting, shelf stable juice & flavored water

Baby Care:

Diapers

Pet Care:

Dry cat food, Litter, canned dog food

WORSHIP SERVICES

On Sunday mornings, you are invited to join us in-person and on Facebook:

Join us for our Sunday morning hymn sing at 9:45 am and our 10:15 Worship. 

If you are watching from home, you can find us at our "Trinity Christian UCC Skippack" facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/TrinityUCCSkippack

SUNDAY BIBLE  STUDY – Now AT 8:30

We have a Sunday morning Bible Study in-person and on ZOOM at 8:30. Here is the link to log in:

Amelie Sell is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Trinity's Wired Word Discussion Group
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/76933813590?pwd=Nzc0MkthZFBkdmVNTGYycjVtRXkwUT09

Meeting ID: 769 3381 3590
Password: 7qLSWw

LUNCH BUNCH MEETS WEEKLY!

Lunch Bunch is our Tuesday afternoon Bible Study.  Everyone is invited to join us on Tuesdays at 12 pm.  Please bring your own lunch. (In the past, we had a potluck lunch, but for now each person will bring their own food.)  Lunch Bunch typically studies the portion of the Bible that will be the focus of our worship service on the upcoming Sunday. 

TRINITY BLOG

Trinity now has a blog where I am posting notes to the congregation and the text of my sermons.  If you would like to read these notes and messages, you can find them at: www.trinityskippack.blogspot.com

I will see you in worship on Sunday!

Many blessings!!

Pastor Amelie

Ask Boldly, Live Justly -- A Message for October 16, 2022

 

            Last week, we read a passage from Jesus’ life events.  While he was traveling, a group of men with leprosy asked Jesus to help them. He healed them, but then was surprised that only one came back to say, “Thank you.”  

            This week, we visit the next chapter in the book of Luke, where we read several of Jesus’ teachings to his disciples and his followers. Jesus told them this unfamiliar parable about a relentless widow. Hear Jesus’ words as they are recorded in Luke, chapter 18, verses one through eight;

Proclamation of the Scripture                        Luke 18:1-8 from the Message

18 1-3 Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, “There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!’

4-5 “He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.’”

6-8 Then the Master said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?”

Here ends this reading of the Word of God for the People of God. Thanks be to God. Amen.           

            The squeaky wheel gets the oil.

            In Biblical times, widows were very vulnerable. They often were left destitute when their husbands died. In most cases, women were not allowed to own property. A wife was dependent on her husband, and when he died, she either had to return to her father’s household if he was still living or live with her adult son if she had one.  Many women had neither a living father nor an adult son when they lost their husbands. So, they were left without income or a place to live unless a relative took pity on them. Legally, women were not equal to men, and they were under the authority of male relatives.

            Ancient Jewish laws intended for widows to be treated compassionately. Widows could advocate for themselves before judges who were supposed to adjudicate fairly on their behalf. But, as we read in our parable, sometimes judges were not really concerned about their constituents. Jesus described a Judge who neither cared about God nor the people he served. But, he was capable of being worn down – the widow wouldn’t leave the judge alone. She begged the judge to stop the perpetuators who were violating her rights. She wanted the judge to do his job and protect her.

            Finally, the judge got tired of the women’s persistent demands for justice.  He decided it would be less troublesome to protect her from the wrongdoers than it was to listen to her nagging. So, he acted on her behalf.

            Jesus then explained to his hearers that if a corrupt judge could be worn down, then we shouldn’t doubt that our compassionate God will hear our pleas for justice. We are reminded to be like the widow – to be persistent in our quest for justice –  justice for ourselves,  justice for our neighbors,  justice for vulnerable people, and justice for people who can’t speak up for themselves.

            This parable seems very pertinent as it relates to the current conditions of the world and the current conditions of our country.  Since March, people all over the world have rallied for peace on behalf of our neighbors in the Ukraine. Our Vacation Bible School kids gathered supplies to fill backpacks for refugees who are being supported by Church World Service. Our own young people have lifted up prayers on behalf of new Ukrainian classmates who have sought refuge in our community. People all over the world are working on supporting refugees and coming up with solutions to cope with the oil embargo against Russia and the lack of wheat exports from Ukraine, where we formerly received 9% of the world’s wheat. The whole world is praying for the people of Ukraine, and many individuals have taken on projects that are intended to help bring justice for our Ukrainian neighbors in need.

            Our faith calls upon us to work on behalf of justice for others. At Trinity, we are very committed to supporting the work of the Daily Bread Community Food Pantry. We share food, toiletry items, and cleaning supplies with the guests of the Pantry. We heave a team of steadfast volunteers who spend hours sorting food and completing tasks needed for the distribution of items to the pantry’s guests. We have members who have been leading fundraising efforts to purchase a new space. We have members who have shared generously from their economic resources to support many efforts at the Pantry. We are a church that cares about our neighbors who are struggling to have enough to eat and to support their families.

            God works for Justice for the people of the earth. Like our Creator, it is our calling to strive for justice for all people. We particularly must work on behalf of vulnerable people who are struggling to have hope. This is our quest and our calling.

            May we live out our faith with love. Amen.

Planting Life -- A Message for October 9, 2022

 

            This morning, we are returning to the Gospel of Luke to visit a story from Jesus’ lifetime. In today’s reading Jesus was travelling to Jerusalem along the border between Galilee and Samaria. In order to get to Jerusalem from Galilee, you had to walk along the edge of Samaria.  But, the Jewish people and the Samaritans were always at odds with each other, and they were prohibited by their religious rules from mingling.  They were neighbors, but remained separate and apart. Listen now to what happened when Jesus walked through this border-region on his way to Jerusalem, as it is recorded in Luke chapter 17, verses 11 through 19:

Proclamation of the Scripture                        Luke 17:11-19

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 

As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 

and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 

He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 

Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 

Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

HERE ENDS THIS READING OF THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD. THANKS BE TO GOD. AMEN.

Prayer: Lord, give us grace this morning that we would be both hearers and doers of the Word.  And may our obedience in both listening and living bring glory to You. Amen.

            Today’s story takes place in a boarder land – the land between Samaria and Galilee. It wasn’t Samaria and it wasn’t Galilee. It was an in-between place, a place where the people who didn’t fit in the regular places gathered…..sort of a no-mans-land where people didn’t want to be. So, the people who hung out there were the rejects – the people who were sick, the people who were very poor, the people born to un-wed mothers, the people who were born in mixed marriages with a Samaritan mom and a Jewish dad, the people who weren’t allowed to live anywhere else….like the people with leprosy who encountered Jesus there.

            Jesus walked right across this no-mans-land, right through the border area that stretched between Samaria and Galilee. The ten men with leprosy saw Jesus. Leprosy is a contagious skin disease that can lead to rashes on the body and damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin and eyes. The rules of the Old Testament command that people with leprosy must be separated from the Jewish community – they were required to live outside of all walled cities and towns. Ancient Jewish people believed leprosy was caused by a person being spiritually corrupt – people in that time period had no understanding of disease and that leprosy is actually caused by bacteria that infect the skin.  Ancient Jewish people also had no understanding of how disease is spread – so people with leprosy were isolated and cut off from everyone else even though the disease is difficult to transmit from person to person.

            Jesus walked across the border region that separated Israel and Samaria, and there he came upon the group of men with leprosy. The men asked Jesus to have pity on them….and in response Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests. They were cleansed as they went on their way. They walked and were healed at the same time. A miraculous healing had taken place.

            There were ten men with leprosy – ten men went to the priests. And, only one came back to thank Jesus. And, the one man who returned to say thank you was a Samaritan…Not one of Jesus’ people….instead, one of their traditional nemeses.

            If Jesus had set this up as a parable, we would expect this ironic twist at the end of the story. But this was real life….the person who returned to say thank you was one of the enemies.

            This story reminds us it is easy to take good news for granted. We get sick, we fret and worry, we overcome the illness after a long struggle, and we move on with our lives. We lose our job we fret and worry, apply for a million jobs, we get hired by a new place, and we move on with our lives. Our kid is struggling at school, we fret and we worry, we help them complete a major project, they get a passing grade, and we move on with our lives. We rarely look back at what has happened and practice gratitude. We rarely focus on the time of struggle….instead we just look ahead and keep moving.

            This morning’s event from Jesus’ life reminds us to be focused on Gratitude. Nothing we accomplish in our lives is done in a vacuum. We must remember to appreciate our family members who help us in the midst of our struggles. We must remember to appreciate our fellow church members who pray for us. We must remember to appreciate the colleagues and friends who mentor us and who help us gain experience and knowledge that lead to better things. We must remember to appreciate God and that God’s Holy Spirit accompanies us throughout our lives, through all of our ups and downs, through all of our struggles and joys.

            The other nine men, the former lepers, were probably really excited and happy they were healed. After they saw the priests and were declared clean, they probably rushed to visit their former friends and relatives and show off their unblemished skin. They were ready to get back to life – to go back to how things were before they became outcast. Appreciation for God and Jesus were not at the top of their to-do lists.

            For that one man, that one Samaritan man, gratitude was essential. He knew his healing came from God by way of Jesus. He remembered to give thanks to God and to Jesus.  And, he got a double blessing from Jesus—he was both healed of his skin condition and made well inside and out by Jesus. We need to work to be like that man, full of gratitude and appreciation.

            May we do so with love in our hearts. Amen. 

Free to Grieve -- A Message for October 2, 2022

 

Over the past few weeks, we have read selections from the letters St. Paul sent to Timothy while Paul was in Prison.  This morning, we turn to the 2^nd letter to Timothy. Paul again writes to Timothy from his cell in a Roman prison. As you listen to his words, imagine how lonely he would have felt – far away from his friends and fellow Christians, isolated and alone. He was suffering, yet kept his faith in God and in the teachings and work of Jesus. Here his words as they are penned in 2^nd Timothy, chapter 1, verses 1 through 14:

Proclamation of the Scripture                        2 Timothy 1:1-14

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

To Timothy, my dear son:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 

Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 

I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 

So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 

but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 

And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 

That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 

Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Here ends this reading of the Word of God for the People of God. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayer Before the Message

Holy One, as we listen once more to the wisdom of your Word, may we be fed both in mind and body. Help us open to your revelation of love and to receive your blessing with grace. Amen.

            Today is Word Communion Sunday. Christians in Skippack; and Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Harare, Zimbabwe; and Mumbai, India; and Kiev, Ukraine; and Jakarta, Indonesia; and Wellington, New Zealand are all meeting at the Communion Table to receive our Holy Meal TODAY.  Christians in every land, on every continent, even in the International Space Station orbiting the earth, are receiving communion today. Christians of every walk of life are sharing a meal together.

            If St. Paul was alive today and was still in prison, he would have the opportunity to receive communion at a Christian worship service in his prison. At SCI Phoenix, our local corrections institute, inmates are invited to participate in Catholic, Protestant, Seventh Day Adventist, Christian Scientist, Jehovah’s Witness, and Episcopalian worship services. So, even Christians who are captive are invited to the Communion Table today.

            Everyone is welcome.

Over the years, as Christianity has evolved, we have opened the table. In some churches, traditionally, people had to take rigorous theology and catechism classes and officially become part of the church before they could receive the elements. You had to jump through hoops before you were welcome to the table. As part of the United Church of Christ, Trinity members don’t believe in “Tests of Faith.” We welcome everyone to the table, young and old, people who believe fervently in every last bit of Christian theology and people who doubt and question every single part of Christian theology.  We are all welcome at this table.

            When Paul wrote his 2^nd letter to Timothy, he was suffering. He had been in living under house arrest and then prison for many years. He felt abandoned by his former friends. He felt ignored by the other Christians in Rome. And, Christians were in serious trouble. The Emperor Nero blamed Christians for the great fire that destroyed Rome in 64 AD – Christians were easy scapegoats for the Romans because they were disliked by both Jewish and Gentile Romans.  Many people who was arrested and then admitted to be Christian believers were killed—sometimes in horribly violent manners. Many martyrs were minted in this sad period. Eventually, even Paul would become a martyr.

            In light of how he felt and how difficult things were for Christians, Paul remained true to his faith. At a time when many people would throw in the towel, Paul remained steadfast. And, despite the trials Timothy faced in Ephesus, he also wanted Timothy and his fellow Christians to remain steadfast and dedicated to our shared faith. And, Paul wanted to assure them that even when we suffer, we are seen and loved by our God.

            Friends, fortunately, we don’t live in a time when Christianity is under attack, at least in the United States. We won’t be martyred for being Christians, like Paul and many of his kindred were. Now we live in a time and place where Christianity is becoming the faith of a smaller and smaller group of people.  Some of us can remember a time period when people filled these pews, and filled the pews of all of the neighboring congregations. People attended Church and sat alongside their neighbors and co-workers. It was “normal” to be a Christian and attend a church.

            But, now we live in a day and a place where what we do is not “normal.” – in fact, what we do is possibly abnormal. Instead of sleeping in on Sunday or playing softball or eating brunch before 11:30 am, we are here….we are here to worship a God fewer and fewer of our neighbors are worried about having a relationship with.  We are here because our faith compels us to be here. We are here because our faith convinces us that this is important, that God wants us to worship in community, and our faith makes a positive difference in our lives and in the lives of others.  We are here despite having many other options.

            As Paul said: For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Even though our faith makes us different than our secular friends and family members, in our difference, we find strength. Our Faith in God helps us to be resilient and brave. Our faith in Jesus reminds us that God loves us and expects us to be focused on doing good for the people of the world and being kind to ourselves. Our faith helps us to discern our ethical and moral priorities in a world where there are a lot of persuasive arguments to be selfish and greedy.  Our common faith in God reminds us that the Holy Spirit of God is among us and within our very beings guiding our hands and guiding our thoughts, helping us remain true and focused on what the Lord requires of us. The Holy Spirit guides us and all Christians to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.

            Today is a special day. We are reminded that we are not alone in our faith. There is a web of Christians stretching across the globe to encourage us and to connect with us. Take heart and know that we are not alone, and together we will bring Christ’s message of love and compassion to the people of the world who desperately need to hear it.

            Amen.