Sermon for 10th May 2009 (Acts 8: 26-40; John 15: 1-8)
A Vicar was given a parrot; he didn’t want the parrot but he had been given it. He wanted it even less when it soon became obvious he had been reared in a very rough household and swore like a trooper, especially when the Vicar had visitors. The vicar coped for a few weeks and then decided to teach the parrot a lesson; he opened the door of his freezer and put him in. After a few minutes, the bird became quieter and quieter and then went silent. Fearing that he had gone too far, the Vicar opened the door of the freezer and to his relief the bird walked out. Then to his amazement said "I would like to say straight away how incredibly sorry I am if in any way my language has offended you; from not on I will use only the Queen's English and behave myself. The Vicar was delighted. After a few moments awkward silence the bird asked "Please tell me, what did the chicken do wrong?"
Today's sermon is not about parrots who are not welcome but about people who do not feel welcomed or valued in God's kingdom. In the 'Acts' reading, one of Jesus' disciples, Philip is sent off on a strange errand by God. It was an act of faith; it isn't easy hearing God and the road he was sent to was quite some way away and Philip would have had to walk there in the heat of the sun! But he did.
When he got there, he waited and along came a chariot - a fine chariot carrying an important looking man from a different country. The man was reading aloud, in Hebrew which, surprisingly he obviously understood, even though he was not a Jew. And what Philip realised he was reading from was the Bible - In fact me book of Isaiah, but clearly not understanding it. Philip, being a tactful person, asked him whether he understood what he was reading. The man, who turned out to be the national treasurer of Ethiopia (a country south of Egypt) replied that he did not He was probably surprised to be asked this by a Jew. Unfortunately not only was he a foreigner which made God's people suspicious straight away but senior officials in other countries were often castrated in order to be safe around ihe king's wives, so not only could not have children, but were not welcome at worship in Israel. Now clearly he was a believer, who loved God, but who felt unloved by God and his people - not surprising really!
Yet here was a Jewish man, clearly being really welcoming and friendly. He welcomed the approach and asked Philip for his help. So Philip hopped on board and began to explain about Jesus, who was being talked about by the prophet Isaiah hundreds of years before Jesus was bom, as someone who would be: 'Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.'
And Philip explained that this Jesus who had come to earth as a human being to not only tell us about the incredible love of God, but to show us what that love was like. Philip told how this love was so strong that it scared some powerful people because it challenged he way they treated others so eventually they decided to kill him and that was what this passage was about. Jesus showed the love of God even to the point of dying on a cross, so all can know God and know themselves to be loved and valued by God, whatever their nationality and whatever their physical state. Jesus had come to break down every barrier between people. Not surprisingly, the Ethiopian was delighted and asked to be baptised, just as Linzi and Samuel will be soon.
This passage gives an example of one Christian talking the Gospel, the Good news of Jesus very seriously, not just enjoying for himself, but turning it into practical action This week we have Christian Aid week. As a church we have just agreed that Christian Aid is to be one of our two main charities. Christian Aid goes out to show the love of God practically to all people. It’s not just
for Christians; it's for Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and those of no religion at all. It doesn't matter what country, what background, what sex, or sexual orientation you are. God loves everyone and they go out with that same love
That's just one way God's people now show the love of God to others - unconditionally valuing all people. God s message to us today is 'All are welcomed; all are valued!'. Not least of all, you!
Saturday, 19 September 2009
NEC
Sermon for 19th April 2009 (Acts 4: 32-35; John 20: 1-18)
For the next two weeks we are thinking about being an NEC. What’s an NEC? – isn’t that the big exhibition centre near Birmingham. Yes it is, but what I am thinking of is Normal Ecclesial Community.
This is all about Christian community being Christian Community- caring sharing, supporting each other.n After years of uncertainity now we have light at the end of the tunnel. After years of not knowing what will happen to the Vicar’s post here, now we not only know what is happening, but we know who is coming, Mark Kinder, and we know that he is a good pastor and theologian so you will continue to be stretched. But what for? What kind of community does the Bible show us God wants us to be. Today we have two readings which show us just that.
Both readings show us aspects of what should be ‘normal’ for Christians when they gather in community. In the Acts reading we have people who act in ways that may not appear normal. These are poeple who give enormously generously for the sake of others in the community. It is the people who have the most who give the most. The richest amongst them were land-owners. The poorest among them would have been those Jesus had healed, previously unable to earn money, or widows – no social security system for them. Seeing their need, those who had gave so that the poorest had enough to live on. This is practical, normal, sharing and caring. Now we have social security and all have some income, but for the community to work we have to pay our way for the work of the existing church, paying my salary, and for training of future clergy, but also the costs of the building, heating, lighting, the services. Over the years those who have a reasonable wage have given generously and those who have less have given what they can and that situation continues today. Some give particularly in terms of money but others give of their time. In the early church some became, effectively unpaid ministers to teach and to care for others in the church. Some were good at cooking, some at administration. Whatever they had they gave. So a normal part of being God’s community is sharing what we have for the sake of others.
Another aspect of normal life is that these are not great giants of faith. Thomas is a great blessing to the church as a reminder that there will be times when we are confident in God’s provision and some times, particularly when life gets uncertain when faith is hard to hold onto. Thomas went through a complete wobbly over Jesus’ resurrection. Despite all that Jesus had said about himself; despite what his fellow believers said, he simply could not believe Jesus had done what he had said he would do. But note how the other believers responded to him. They tried to help him believe but accepted him as he was. That gave him space to find out for himself; he was with the believers when Jesus appeared. He is forgiven by Jesus – and by the community. As we have struggled about the future of this church we have allowed each other to voice those concerns and not rejected anyone for having those doubts. Tha is another way of giving to each other.
Secondly Ecclesial. ‘Ecclesia’ (church) means people of God, not the building – people committed to the teaching of Jesus. In the Gospel story the disciples, knowing Jesus was back were even more committed to Jesus’ teaching; we know from Acts chapter 2 that the early church had a model of coming together very regularly to learn from the theologians, just as some of you did over Lent, joining with St Matthew’s or on the START course here as well as what you learn on Sunday. We have access to books as well and I know some of you read Christian books to get more teaching. But the NEC requires a people of God who are committed to learning and sharing together. And with Mark coming in you will have a whole new lot of teaching –after several years for some of you, many of you have a good idea of what I will teach each Sunday, so Mark will bring new things to learn from – another opportunity.
Finally Community. This is about ordinary people giving each other support with all they have. Next week we vote for people to make decsiions on our behalf in the Church Council, to represent us at Deanery Synod and the PCC, people to be wardens and then there are all the other roles, those who lead in the childrens’groups, those who serve coffee; we are looking for someone to deal with Brenda’s tax. When we have Passover or any other event, we all just muck in like family, for that is what we are, brothers and sisters. People to support each othe when life gets tough; we remain faithful to each other so we take home communions to four people from St Luke’s. Family is family even when they are not here.
So, we are NEC, Normal Ecclesial Community, caring for each other, giving what we can, learning together and supporting each other in doing so. Next week we look ahead to the future of this communtiy, but we do so knowing that God has called us to be here, for each other - and for the sake of the wider community. By this shall all people know that you are my disciples – by the (practical) love you have for each other
For the next two weeks we are thinking about being an NEC. What’s an NEC? – isn’t that the big exhibition centre near Birmingham. Yes it is, but what I am thinking of is Normal Ecclesial Community.
This is all about Christian community being Christian Community- caring sharing, supporting each other.n After years of uncertainity now we have light at the end of the tunnel. After years of not knowing what will happen to the Vicar’s post here, now we not only know what is happening, but we know who is coming, Mark Kinder, and we know that he is a good pastor and theologian so you will continue to be stretched. But what for? What kind of community does the Bible show us God wants us to be. Today we have two readings which show us just that.
Both readings show us aspects of what should be ‘normal’ for Christians when they gather in community. In the Acts reading we have people who act in ways that may not appear normal. These are poeple who give enormously generously for the sake of others in the community. It is the people who have the most who give the most. The richest amongst them were land-owners. The poorest among them would have been those Jesus had healed, previously unable to earn money, or widows – no social security system for them. Seeing their need, those who had gave so that the poorest had enough to live on. This is practical, normal, sharing and caring. Now we have social security and all have some income, but for the community to work we have to pay our way for the work of the existing church, paying my salary, and for training of future clergy, but also the costs of the building, heating, lighting, the services. Over the years those who have a reasonable wage have given generously and those who have less have given what they can and that situation continues today. Some give particularly in terms of money but others give of their time. In the early church some became, effectively unpaid ministers to teach and to care for others in the church. Some were good at cooking, some at administration. Whatever they had they gave. So a normal part of being God’s community is sharing what we have for the sake of others.
Another aspect of normal life is that these are not great giants of faith. Thomas is a great blessing to the church as a reminder that there will be times when we are confident in God’s provision and some times, particularly when life gets uncertain when faith is hard to hold onto. Thomas went through a complete wobbly over Jesus’ resurrection. Despite all that Jesus had said about himself; despite what his fellow believers said, he simply could not believe Jesus had done what he had said he would do. But note how the other believers responded to him. They tried to help him believe but accepted him as he was. That gave him space to find out for himself; he was with the believers when Jesus appeared. He is forgiven by Jesus – and by the community. As we have struggled about the future of this church we have allowed each other to voice those concerns and not rejected anyone for having those doubts. Tha is another way of giving to each other.
Secondly Ecclesial. ‘Ecclesia’ (church) means people of God, not the building – people committed to the teaching of Jesus. In the Gospel story the disciples, knowing Jesus was back were even more committed to Jesus’ teaching; we know from Acts chapter 2 that the early church had a model of coming together very regularly to learn from the theologians, just as some of you did over Lent, joining with St Matthew’s or on the START course here as well as what you learn on Sunday. We have access to books as well and I know some of you read Christian books to get more teaching. But the NEC requires a people of God who are committed to learning and sharing together. And with Mark coming in you will have a whole new lot of teaching –after several years for some of you, many of you have a good idea of what I will teach each Sunday, so Mark will bring new things to learn from – another opportunity.
Finally Community. This is about ordinary people giving each other support with all they have. Next week we vote for people to make decsiions on our behalf in the Church Council, to represent us at Deanery Synod and the PCC, people to be wardens and then there are all the other roles, those who lead in the childrens’groups, those who serve coffee; we are looking for someone to deal with Brenda’s tax. When we have Passover or any other event, we all just muck in like family, for that is what we are, brothers and sisters. People to support each othe when life gets tough; we remain faithful to each other so we take home communions to four people from St Luke’s. Family is family even when they are not here.
So, we are NEC, Normal Ecclesial Community, caring for each other, giving what we can, learning together and supporting each other in doing so. Next week we look ahead to the future of this communtiy, but we do so knowing that God has called us to be here, for each other - and for the sake of the wider community. By this shall all people know that you are my disciples – by the (practical) love you have for each other
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