Sermon: Surprising God!

Acts 10: 1-35

(God of surprises...or what Peter did next)

A couple of weeks ago, over Easter weekend, as many of you know we had some of the family staying; during the weekend, Lara was shocked to hear raised voices coming from the kitchen, and horrified, asked Jamie if that was Alastair  and me arguing. After a moment’s reflection Jamie said, “No, that’s mum shouting at a politician on the TV!”

We have reached the season of extreme rhetoric; and I am increasingly avoiding every news programme, bulletin and current affairs programme because all it does is make my blood boil.

In my younger days I was an ardent political junky; I lapped it up; supported and enthused over one party and generally saw the world through one dimension. I was assured, confident and knew (in my own mind) what was right and what was wrong.

The older I got however, the less assured I became. For suddenly the old views seemed naive and unrealistic. I realised that in a bid for power, politicians were willing to compromise, not just the small stuff, but the big stuff too. And it became clear to me that one single truth simply did not exist.

So now I find I cannot listen to debates and interviews, because no one will answer a direct question; the presenters badger and the politicians bluster.

What, you may be thinking, has this got to do with Peter’s vision?!

Peter had, his whole life followed a very strict set of rules and instructions. He knew without doubt what was right and what was wrong; what was allowed and what was forbidden; who he could speak to, spend time with, and who was considered unclean, unacceptable.

It is hard for us today, to hear the retelling of this encounter between Peter and Cornelius and understand the enormity of it.

It is as outrageous and extreme as the idea of Ed Milliband and David Cameron entering into an agreement to work together.

It seems utterly impossible and offensive.

Peter needed to have that vision more than once because for him it really was going against everything he believed about the world. He knew the score:

Gentiles – you do not associate with; you do not visit with – they were unclean

Food – strict laws attached to what was eaten and how it was prepared

Rules & rituals – for every occasion there was a ritual attached, from how to cook, to how to prepare to eat, and what to do if you were accidentally contaminated.

For Peter this encounter with Cornelius turned everything upside down

Suddenly everything he knew and understood up to that point no longer made sense...

I wonder if he remembered Jesus words?

“What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth...” not food but words.

This encounter cannot be underestimated.

Up to this point, the good news was for Jews; if non Jews wanted to become followers of Jesus then they were expected first to become Jews. For Peter a great light was suddenly shining down, Cornelius was there, waiting to hear about God’s plan, and Peter suddenly saw it all:

 “I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis. ³⁵ Those who fear him and do what is right are acceptable to him, no matter what race they belong to.”

Suddenly Peter realised that the Good News he and the others had been tasked with sharing was so much bigger than they had thought – when Jesus had given his final instruction to them, he really did mean ALL nations – not just the twelve tribes, but every nation, in every corner of the world... thus began the greatest mission in all history.

Peter’s revelation through his vision, is a wonderful insight for us too.

God surprises!

We have a surprising God, and God can take us to places we do not expect. If you had told the 20 year old Julie what would happen to her, where she would live; places she would visit; things she would do – well, I know for sure I would not have believed it; or I would have been appalled, outraged, horrified and dismayed.

Yet here I am; 35 years on from 20 year old me.

Living in a different place

Part of a different denomination

Doing a job I would have considered was totally beyond my capabilities

Viewing the world in a totally different way

And living in a way I would never have believed possible.

We are blessed to follow a surprising God

Who has plans for us we will never know about – until the time is exactly right

And then, when the penny drops, the lights turn on

Life will never be the same again

What a blessing!

Amen.

Sermon 2nd Sunday of Easter

The Only Thing to Do

 Matthew 28: 16-20

It’s the week after Easter

Jesus is risen, and the disciples are still in hiding

They are exhausted – and so is every minister across the land

From Palm Sunday to Easter there is a lot that goes on

Extra services, in church, for schools... sharing the events, leading the people through that week, when the world changed forever

And here we are at last – Easter is upon us. Yes, Easter is upon us- it’s far more than just one day – it is a season of 50 days, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost, a season for celebrating new life in Christ.

Today’s reading comes up every three years in the lectionary, and usually is given for Trinity – the week after Pentecost. I checked back – I have NEVER preached on this passage! Usually I focus on what we mean by God as Father, Son & Holy Spirit, and not at all on Jesus’ Great Commission:

“Go, make disciples, baptise in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and remember I am with you to the end of time.”

I find it hard to believe that in 15 years of preaching I’ve never preached on this, Jesus parting instruction to his disciples. The reading is in a different place in this new lectionary we are following... So here I go!

The first thing that strikes me in these final four verses of Matthew’s gospel is the phrase, “they worshipped him, but some doubted”. What a fabulous statement!!

SOME DOUBTED....

They were still able to worship

They were still included in the great commission

They were still invited in

Even with their doubts

Even with their hesitation and insecurities

Jesus still took them, chose them, led them, blessed them.

So even with our uncertainties

Our doubting

Our fragile will and tentative loyalty

Jesus chooses us

We do not have to be sure

We do not have to know all the answers

Jesus takes us as we are, where we are, who we are – Jesus doesn’t exclude those who are not perfect – he embraces them!

So, today, as we hear that charge we know that it doesn’t matter if  we feel less than able, less than ready – because God goes before us, caring, encouraging, leading ever forward – Jesus promised we’d never be alone, and the Spirit blesses our encounters and our journeying, whether we realise it or not.

What a perfect day then, to be welcoming a little one into God’s family

What a perfect day to encourage new parents with their own doubts and insecurities; with their own feelings of disbelief and uncertainty. It’s OK!

Jesus takes everyone

Those who know

And those who do not

Those who are sure and those who are not

Jesus enables amazing and wondrous things to happen

For Grace is ever present

We bring our children

We make promises we hope in, knowing as we do that we are frail and imperfect. That our determination will always be subject to challenge every step of the way.

Yet, even in this we have this reassurance

Jesus knows us, and blesses us anyway

So, as we remember our own baptismal vows today, as we have witnessed this family make their promises, we remember also, that we do not do it alone; we do not rely on our own strengths – we rely on God’s amazing and wondrous grace to lift us and guide us every day

Jesus called his disciples to go, share, and tell

Before they were able for it

While they still doubted

And we know they managed it

Because here we are

Hearing it

Sharing it

Telling it

Because really it is the only thing to do!

Amen 

In-between

It's the day between

Yesterday it was finished

Tomorrow a new start 

But today...

Today is a nothing, a gap, a pause...

What to do?

Too soon for fun and joy and celebrating

Too soon to shout the news

Too soon...

Today is the time for waiting

Holding the peace

Comforting the lost

Studying the quiet mood

How do we feel today?

What does this wait do?

Question for a moment what happened...

The friends were scattered

Running and fearful

Did they regroup?

How quickly were they able to gather

Did they do a head count...

Have you seen Thomas?

Where is Nathaniel?

Has anyone found the women, the children?

Are we all here...

What do we do now?

Peter, John you were closest - tell us what to do...

What did he mean when he told us those things?

He told us to wait, what are we waiting for?

Is this it?

Is this all there is?

Where shall we go?

Do we just go back to our ordinary lives?

O Holy God

show us how to live in this inbetween time

and all the other inbetween times we experience

waiting for news

waiting for hope

waiting for courage and restoration

May the Spirit's breath touch and fill us

give us courage, make us bold

Stregthen our resolve and show us how to be..

to simply be

in all the inbetween times

Today the day

Today 

This day

The day

One day

That changed the world 

Earthquake and darkness 

herald the event

Strong, impassive soldiers

who have seen everything

are stunned into belief...

The dead will walk

The living will fall into

silence

stunned, disbelief 

questioning everything

doubting their certainty

and wondering...

"What did we do...?" 

The faithful will hide

watching from afar

Fearful, bereft, inconsolable

lost and lonely - so very alone. 

God will act

Seeming fury, rents the earth

Heaven itself protests

Earthquake and darkness

Shake the very foundations 

This event, 

This day

The day

Changes

Everything

Forever

the Fragrance of Jesus

"May the fragrance of Jesus fill this place"

The mid point in Holy Week, 

a time of silence and reflection

stimulated by some visual reminders

a purple cloth

thirty pieces of silver

broken bread

a bowl of water

a jug of rich red wine

a small hand held cross

an old, heavy hammer and long, sharp nails

and a large, dark, brooding cross, bedecked with a fragment of cloth and a twisted wire crown

in a small bowl burned frankincense... pungent resin

the smoke lifted and curled

moving back and forth as people moved quietly round the church

station to station

moment to moment

The mid point in Holy Week

a time to reflect

a time to be still, quiet, close

the fragrance filled our senses

the reminders touched our souls

 

 

The Sound of Silence

A post Palm Sunday Reflection

Yesterday was Palm Sunday

and, rather than focussing on the Triumphant Entry to Jerusalem

we moved into the events of Thursday & Friday of Holy Week

the entry reading was used as a call to worship

and for the children's message

and then... we  moved to the Passion Narrative in Matthew

chapters 26 & 27 

It was scripted for three voices

and, during the reading we sang vesres from  there is a green hill far away

it was a long reading

and, all who felt able were asked to remain standing

As the reading progressed I was surprised to see everyone on their feet.

Some, who struggle day to day, kept on standing, gripping the rail in front of them, but determined to carry the honour...

the emotion was tangible 

As the reading climaxed, and Jesus breathed his last, we fell into silence.... a long, long minute. 

The silence broken, by the single chord to indicate the next verse... "There was no other good enough..." and all round I could see eyes filling, heads bowing, as, as if for the very first time, the gospel words were brought into our reality. 

The reading finished. And, the next hymn, seated, was The Servant King. 

In theory, there was to be a short reflection.

I had a few headings,  I had planned to go without notes, because writing about Good Friday is such an emotional, astonishing event, and I had felt the Spirit prompting earlier in the week, to trust her. 

The Spirit was more tangible, more present, for the whole congregation. 

I stood, and said, "the scriptures and the hymns have said it all - let's just reflect for a moment.... I can add nothing."

Holy Spirit - holy presence in our midst

we thank you

walk with us this Holy Week

as we remember once more

Amen  

Forward and Back: sermon March 22

Sermon & Annual Report 

Matthew 25: 31-46: The Sheep & Goats - Final Judgement. 

“Whatever you did, for the least of these; that you did for me”

Over the past few weeks we have watched the final chapters of Jesus life unfold; his parables get stronger, more scary, more difficult to understand. His stories become harder to relate to; harder to accept; harder to hear... because we don’t want to identify with the complacent wedding guest who didn’t make an effort; or the silly girls who weren’t prepared; or the lazy servant who couldn’t be bothered. And we certainly don’t want to identify with the “others” the goats of this world.

We don’t want to be considered, uncaring, or selfish, or mean, or ungenerous with time or money. We don’t want to be thrown out, locked out, disowned – we do not want to be punished.

And yet, here we are, a week before the start of Holy Week; a week before the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, when the crowd went wild! And children sang; and all was right with the world – or so it seemed. For we of course have the wisdom of hindsight. We know, that all was not quite as rosy as it appeared, and in that same week, those who had cheered and shouted alleluia, would be baying for blood, jeering, and shouting instead “Crucify!”

The truth is, we like they, are both saint and sinner, every day.

We have our blessed moments

And our cursed ones

We have joy and love and compassion

And we also have anger, and resentment and indifference.

We are human.

And so to this year just past, and the year to come. How can we weave together the Gospel message with the reality of being church here in Earlston in this 21^st century world?

We have achieved much: Messy Church has gone from strength to strength; we are reaching families we would never normally see, and they are learning about Jesus and God’s amazing love for them.

Last year was busy – really busy!

I took more funerals than ever; and I conducted three weddings – here and in Stow.

We welcomed new members; we welcomed babies into God’s family and through the sacrament of baptism, we welcomed young Milly Burnham Boyle in a wonderful celebration of her faith.

The relationship I have been building with our schools has grown and developed, and is going from strength to strength. I am invited in for assemblies and class room visits and the schools come here for their special services too.

We have also been looking for ways to live out our mission statement:

 “We are moved by faith to be recognised by all as the mainspring of the community, and so to bring its members closer to God”

Thus began our newest project: The Community Cafe. This will be launched on Wednesday 15^th April and will then be open every Wednesday morning, for coffee and biscuits; chat and friendship. There will be a dedicated area for children; we plan to have a table with newspapers and board games available too. We hope to have a rota of helpers, and look forward to welcoming lots of friends, old and new who would welcome an opportunity to gather together in comfort.

In everything we do; as individuals and as a church there are things to remember, things to be aware of and things that guide and motivate us. And, in many ways, these “doom and gloom” scriptures we have been immersed in over the past few weeks are part of that too. Not so that we go and do good so that God will reward us – that really isn’t what Jesus’ message was about at all...

As I was bringing to mind the right words to conclude with today I was reminded of one of my favoured philosophical authors: Thomas Merton, 20^th Century monk, theologian and spiritual writer. In his diaries he wrote of a pure “God-moment” walking along the street one day he was suddenly struck by the realisation: I love all the people: it was a godly revelation, that he could look along the street at individuals he did not, and likely would not ever know, but know in his own heart that God enabled him to love. A couple of years later he developed this idea further writing:

“To discover all the social implications of the Gospel, not by studying them, but by living them, and to unite myself explicitly with those who foresee and work for a social order – a transformation of the world – according to these principles: primacy of the person (...justice liberty, peace...) primacy of wisdom and love (...against materialism, hedonism etc.)” (Merton: June 1960; extract in Intimate Merton; Lion Books 1999)

This is what Jesus is trying to make his disciples understand through his teaching: to act and live out the gospel – God loves us. So we are able to love and give love and if we truly love, then we will naturally act in a manner that reflects that love. Not for any motivation other than to love others.

This is what our hope is in our mission statement, in our forward planning, in our hopes for the future of not only the church in Earlston, but the Community in Earlston. Church folk, village folk; new arrivals and multi-generational folk, all together, regardless, living and loving together.

Whatever we do, for anyone, we are doing in love, for God in Jesus Christ.

Amen.