All are welcome; all are valued

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!