In Giving, We Receive

This past Sunday, we heard these words from Jesus: "Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward." (Mark 9:41 - NRSV)  Jesus tells his disciples that there are more on Jesus' team than just the disciples. That message rings true for us as well - it's not just the pastors and the staff, but the whole people of God who make up the church. The church is made up of people who are invited and encouraged to use their gifts in sharing God's love. Some do that by singing, some by reading, some by greeting, some by serving on church council, some by teaching. Millie served by baking.
Millie was a member of my previous church. She made the best, and I mean BEST sticky buns and pecan rolls I have ever had. She used to make them for Bible Study classes and Pot Luck dinners. One of the Bible Study regulars told her every single week, "Millie, you almost got it right. Keep trying!" He was just hoping she wouldn't stop trying! Another member said Millie is the one who caused him to start drinking coffee because the rolls taste so much better with coffee!
Every Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, the phone would ring at our house. Millie made two or three pans of rolls each holiday for our family and brought them over for us. She would call ahead to let us know she wanted to stop by and drop off something for us. We knew what it was going to be! When the phone rang that time of year, the kids would ask, "Is that Millie?" We were blessed by her gift.
I recall at a Bible Study asking the question, "If your house was on fire, what is the one thing (besides people and animals) would you make sure you grabbed as you ran out of the house?" Millie's answer? Her cheese cloth she used for baking.
Millie passed away last week at the age of 91. I have been thinking about her the past few days. She never was one to speak up at a meeting, or want to read or sing or preach or teach. She did what she loved to do. She loved to bake. She loved to share her gift with others. And because of it, we were blessed and weigh a couple pounds more!
I have a feeling there may be some of those rolls at God's banquet feast. I encourage you to try some when you get there. And I imagine God is saying, "Millie, you got it just right!"

Peace,
Pastor Charlie

The Cross

Every now and then, when surfing through channels (you see, I am a male!), I come across the Antique Road Show.  A wonderful show that takes a group of antiques experts from town to town, welcoming people with their heirlooms, trinkets, or bazaar items (appropriately named, because the picked it up at some church bazaar).  The people place their items before the experts, who seems to know way too much about the item, where and when it was made, and then they take a stab at a possible value of the item.

I have learned in watching the show that some of the ugliest things can be of greatest value.  It is wonderful to watch the expressions on the owner’s face when they find out that the piece of junk they inherited from Aunt Henrietta is worth thousands of dollars.

And I have noticed on this show, there one thing that seems to increase the value of the item being scrutinized is the signature or mark of the maker on the item.  This always impresses the experts, who rant and rave over the signed item.

I guess you could say that in some ways, the church is like a People of God Road Show.  We come here with different baggage.  Some of us look a bit more worn than others.  We have, in many ways, inherited things from our relatives - traits, names, traditions.

We come to stand in the presence of God, who knows us better than we ourselves.  God looks intently at us, the bumps, the scars, the imperfections, and all.  But no matter the lack of perfection, God stares at our forehead, and sees something only God’s eye can see.  An invisible sign.  It is a cross - placed there at the font.  Invisible to the untrained eye, it is there.  The value of that mark, the mark of our maker  - priceless.

At the youth gathering, we saw a short video of Davey and Goliath - remember them?  The boy, Davey, and his dog, Goliath.  Davey was staring in the mirror, looking for that cross, and wondering what the pastor was talking about when he said we all have the mark of the cross on our forehead.  Davey couldn’t see it!  He thought he had been tricked.

Goliath’s only response was, “I don’t know about that, Davey.  But I do know that I am Goliath, and I belong to Davey.  And Davey loves me very much.”  Then, Davey got it - “I am Davey.  I belong to God.  God loves me very much.”  That Goliath is one smart dog!

The truth is this  - you are a child of God.  You belong to God.  God claims you as his own.  You are of GREAT value.  The cross on your forehead is God’s seal - never to be taken away.

The cross changes everything.  Death is no longer the final word, no - now it is life.  Despair is no longer the final word, no - now it is hope.  Brokenness and bondage are no longer the final word, no - now it is forgiveness.

The cross, seen as a symbol for death now is a symbol for victory over death.  For Jesus wins the battle.

The cross doesn’t just change the past, it changes our present, and shapes our future.  For the cross is that which ultimately defines us.  It is not our possessions, our status, our good name, our works, our jobs.  They may mean everything to the world, but what matters to God is knowing who we are, and whose we are.

Epiphany Lutheran Church is filled with crosses, even crosses built into the brick walls. These all are constant reminders of the gift of God given to us through Jesus Christ.

During some of our worship services, a processional cross leads us in to worship, followed by the choir and worship leaders, and leads us out into the world following worship. I encourage you to consider facing the cross when it enters and exits. Some will even bow as it passes, not that we "worship" this symbol, but that we remember what Christ has done for us. We face the cross as it is a reminder of God with us, and the gifts we receive through the cross. Placed near the pulpit, we are reminded that Jesus is the Word of God. Placed near the altar, we remember Jesus words - this is my body, this is my blood, given and shed for you. Carried out before us as we exit, we remember Jesus call to go and make disciples of all nations. Jesus leads us out to serve. 

Thank you God, for the gift of the cross.

Peace,

Pastor Charlie