Sidney UMC - First Sunday of Advent/UMC Student Sunday - 11/28/21 - Sermon - “Birth and Return!" ("A Real Advent and A Real Christmas" Series: Part 1 of 5)

Sunday 11/28/21 - Sidney UMC 

Sermon Title:                       “Birth and Return!”     

                  (“A Real Advent and A Real Christmas!” Series: Part 1 of 5)          

Old Testament Scripture: Jeremiah 33:14-16                                     

New Testament Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Gospel Lesson: Luke 21:25-36

          I remember hearing for the first time when I was a little boy, “Paul, don’t put the cart before horse.” Or as my mom used to say of me about the future, “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” Have any of you ever said or heard the phrases, “don’t put the cart before the horse,” or “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it?” These are statements people say when we are getting ahead of ourselves, or when we are thinking about and considering things that are far off. Sometimes we might consider or think about things that are not vital right now, or that can wait. Or maybe we are thinking about things as far as the end result goes but have not planned for or prepared to get to the end result.

          For example, if you were to say before you studied for a test, “I hope that I get an A on that test.” You might hear in response, “Aren’t you putting the cart before the horse? After all, you have not even studied yet, shouldn’t you study first and then expect to get an A.” Or if you said before you have studied, “What if I fail the test.” In response you might say “don’t put the cart before the horse,” or “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it?”

          Sometimes we get ahead of ourselves, and sometimes we can forget to be present in the moment, as we are so focused on the future. I know some Christians in fact that are so focused on the return of Jesus Christ that they seem to have forgotten about living for Jesus now, telling people about Jesus now, and loving their neighbors today. Are we present here and now, or are we putting “the cart before the horse,” or  hearing someone say to us “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it?”

          It is interesting that today is the First Sunday of Advent, this season of preparation leading to Christmas morning, and the return of Jesus Christ. We await the memory of the birth of Christ on Christmas, as he has already been born over 2,000 years ago. Every Christmas we celebrate his birth, that he grew up, that he loved, healed, forgave, died for us, rose again, and as we hear in today’s gospel of Luke lesson once again, will return one day in glory.

          As I mentioned last Sunday, I was originally going to plan for us to decorate the sanctuary and the church for last Sunday after church, but then I was reminded that we cannot talk about Christmas until after Thanksgiving. I realized that I had “put the cart before the horse,” and as a result we will be decorating the church sanctuary and the church after worship today. We can now do this, because that we are through Thanksgiving, I know that I have not “put the cart before the horse.” Sometimes we have to be patient and wait, or as our choir anthem for this morning is titled “Like a child, I wait.”

          Now after those who are able to stay and decorate after church today, I could shout “Merry Christmas” to everyone. Again though, I would be “putting the cart before the horse,” as it is the season of Advent, not Christmas. We know that around the holidays and other times we try to pace ourselves, and that we do not want to get ahead of ourselves. This is why we may have said, and have likely heard, “don’t put the cart before the horse,” or “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it?”

          In fact, the sermon series that I am starting this morning is called “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas.” I often prayerfully pick my scriptures, my sermon titles, and create sermon series months in advance. Even so, the Holy Spirit and the events of the week or month seem to change and alter what I have planned. Specifically, four months ago when I planned this Advent through Christmas Day sermon series, I hoped that we would be in a much better place with the COVID-19 Pandemic than we are now. As some of us have heard in fact, we now have a new strain or variant of COVID-19, and the idea of a “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas” is not what we have at this point.

          As I prayed about this sermon series and how to approach the topic of a “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas,” what God revealed to me is that we can have a “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas.” By “Real,” we are all here in person or online. This is real, but not fully the “Real” that we had a couple of years ago. Even so, we can still have “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas,” although it might not exactly be what we are used to. “Real” is “Real,” whether it is the “Real” we are used to, or not. It would appear that when I planned this sermon series about four months ago, I was so hopeful and optimistic about this pandemic improving that I had “put the cart before the horse.”

          This brings me to my sermon title for this morning, and the first of five sermons in the “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas” series called “Birth and Return!” As I have said some of us have said or heard the phrases like “don’t put the cart before the horse,” or “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it?” It can can easy to make this same mistake with the scripture if are not careful, as well. We are in a season of preparing for Jesus’ birth, but our gospel of Luke lesson for this morning, once again, talks about Jesus’s return to earth.

          In looking at our reading for this morning from the Book of Jeremiah, it says once again:

¹⁴ The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. ¹⁵ In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. ¹⁶ In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness” (Jer. 33:14-16, NRSV).

          In this very prophetic reading, the prophet Jeremiah is telling us that a person in the lineage or the line of the great King David, King of Israel, will be born, and this person will be the savior, messiah, Lord, and the king of all kings. It may have been challenging waiting for Jesus Christ to be born, as we celebrate the memory of Jesus’ birth on Christmas morning every year. We already know that Jesus is coming, as he was already born, but maybe it might have been hard to wait for Jesus to come before he was born. Maybe some people “put the cart before the horse,” thinking Jesus would be born earlier than he was.

          Many of us have celebrated many Advent and Christmas Seasons. We know the story, we know that Jesus was born, and did all the things that he did, that he lived, died, and rose again. Despite our supply chain issues with goods and services, nothing is going to stop Christmas from happening this year. We await the birth of Christ then, even though it has already happened. What has not happened yet though is the return of Christ.

          We are once again given our reading from the First Book of Thessalonians or the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica for this morning. The Apostle Paul begins by thanking God, for the church in Thessalonica. The Apostle Paul says once again in 3:9-11:

⁹ How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? ¹⁰ Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith. ¹¹ Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you (1 Thess. 3:9-11, NRSV).

 

          A few verses before this reading from 1 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul’s young friend Timothy has just returned from the church in Thessalonica. Timothy no doubt spoke to the Apostle Paul and his scribe Silas about the great faith of the church in Thessalonica. The Apostle Paul and Silas were well aware that the church in Thessalonica had great faith, but it is always good to hear good news. The Apostle Paul tells the church in this is his first letter to the church in Thessalonica that he and the other church members where he is in Athens are thankful for there faith and dedication to Christ. Further, the Apostle Paul says that he hopes to be with them again soon.

          The Apostle Paul then closes this reading from 1 Thessalonians starting from 3:9, saying once again:

¹² And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. ¹³ And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints (1 Thess. 3:9-13, NRSV).

          The Apostle Paul, Timothy, Silas, and all the others clearly miss the church in Thessalonica. They want to see the Thessalonians again, although they do not know when. The Apostle Paul also encourages the Thessalonians and prays that they would increase and abound in love for one another. The Apostle Paul also prays that the Thessalonians would grow in holiness and blamelessness when the Lord Jesus Christ returns.

          In my first couple of years of ministry, I used to think it odd that on the First Sunday of Advent that we have a scripture about the return of Jesus Christ. We have this scripture, generally every year, to show that Christ is indeed coming on Christmas. He was born, and we celebrate his birth every year. The season of Advent prepares us for the birth of Christ, but it also points us to the return of Christ. Christ was born, Christ died for us, and he will come again in glory.

          This is again how I got my sermon title for this morning, once again, is called “Birth and Return!” In our reading from Luke 21:25-36 for this morning once again, Jesus tells us what it will be like around the time of his return. Jesus says once again starting Luke 21:25:

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. ²⁶ People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. ²⁸ Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Lk. 21:25-28, NRSV).

 

          This morning once again, we begin the season of Advent, and hear about the coming birth of Christ and his eventual return to earth. We, therefore, emphasize the “Birth and Return!” Jesus then emphasizes his return with the parable of the Fig Tree. Jesus says once again that when a fig tree is ready to sprout leaves that summer is near. In the same way a fig tree prepares for spring, Jesus tells us to watch for and to notice the signs of his return to earth. Jesus says that generation, or an era of time will not pass away until these signs have occurred. Jesus then reminds us that heaven and earth will pass away, but his words and his kingdom will never pass away (Lk. 21:29-33, NRSV).

          Lastly, Jesus tells us in Luke 21:34-36 this:

³⁴ “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, ³⁵ like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Lk. 21:34-36, NRSV).

          So, we are called to be present, to serve and love this day, and not to only be focused on the end. Or as I heard when I was a kid “don’t put the cart before the horse,” or “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it?” People have asked me before if I think Christ will return soon. The best response I can give to this question is a quote from a Methodist Pastor that has since passed on to glory. This pastor said, “Don’t become so heavenly minded that you are useless here on earth.” Once again, “Don’t become so heavenly minded that you are useless here on earth.”

          Given all of this, friends, brothers and sisters, Melissa and I realize increasingly, especially through this pandemic that this life is fleeting. We have had many deaths this year, and we know that the scripture says that tomorrow is not promised to any of us. The faith we have now, and how we live it will continue on this earth, after we have gone on to be with God in glory. If Christ returns while we are still on this earth, then we have served him faithfully while we were here.

          Since this year has reminded Melissa and I all the more how life can change, how people pass away unexpectedly, and how the world can change around us, we are driven as much as ever to give. God has blessed us richly, and in response to these great blessings, we give to God through this church. We give because God has given so much to us, and every year that I have been in ministry, we try to increase our giving. We give because we believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, we believe in the need to share the good news of Christ and equip people to transform the world. We believe this so much in fact, which give as much as we can to God through this church that we can.

          On this First Sunday of Advent, this UM Student Sunday, and this Consecration Sunday, I would ask you to prayerfully consider your giving to God through this church. It is no secret that our church has been running a budget deficit for a long time now. If I had to guess, at the rate we are going, this church will likely be closed in about 10-years. I cannot control the future of this church, only God can, but I believe in this church, what God is doing in and through us, and I want to see this church have a bright and a vibrant future.

          So, on this First Sunday of Advent, this UM Student Sunday, and this Consecration Sunday, I would ask you to prayerfully consider your giving to God through this church. We have pledge cards in our bulletins. You are welcome to fill them out and drop them in the wooden “Joash” box on the pedestal in the middle of the church. This way the church Finance Committee can have an idea of how we can plan to fun our ministries and the mission of our church in 2022 and beyond. Melissa and I friends, give once again, because we love Jesus, we love this church, and we believe in what God is doing here and beyond.

          So again, even though on Christmas we celebrate the memory of Jesus’ birth, may we not dwell solely on when he will return. May we not dwell only on the future of the church, forgetting our ministry in the here and the now. Let us give and love generously today, so that we “don’t put the cart before the horse,” or “we’ll cross that bridge when come to it?” May we give and love generously so that we “Don’t become so heavenly minded that you are useless here on earth.” Amen.

Sidney UMC - Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday - 11/21/21 - Sermon - “Did Pilate Really Know Who Jesus Was?”

Sunday 11/21/21 - Sidney UMC 

Sermon Title:  “Did Pilate Really Know Who Jesus Was?”                     

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 132:1-12                                         

New Testament Scripture: Revelation 1:4b-8

Gospel Lesson: John 18:33-37

          When I was kid, and yes, I said kid. Some of you might think of me as a kid, but Spence Gridley told me when I turned 40 last month that I am now a young man. So, as I was saying, when I was kid, one of the games that some of my friends like to play in the winter was “King of the Hill.” We would go on the top of a large snow mound, or a snowy hill and wrestle to be on the top of the hill. Sometimes we would go sliding down, and sometimes we would take the hill. We usually did not keep the hill very long, but the point of the game is who is the “King of the Hill.” While it was only a game, when you became “King of the Hill” you were in charge, for a minute at least. Being a “King” is what I want to talk about in part this morning, on this our Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday.

          You will notice this morning that the paraments on the pulpit, the lectern, and the altar are all white this Sunday. The color white represents purity, righteousness, and holiness. This Sunday we celebrate the King of all, and the Lord of the universe, Jesus Christ. To define Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday, let me read you a definition of what today is:

“The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, commonly referred to as the Feast of Christ the King, Christ the King Sunday or Reign of Christ Sunday, is a relatively recent addition to the Western liturgical calendar, instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI for the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church. In 1970 its Roman Rite observance was moved to the final Sunday of Ordinary Time. The earliest date on which it can occur is 20 November and the latest is 26 November. The Lutheran, Anglican, Moravian, Methodist, Reformed and United Protestant churches also celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, which is contained in the Revised Common Lectionary; the Methodist, Anglican and Presbyterian Churches often observe this as part of the liturgical season of Kingdomtide, which runs between the Fourth Sunday before Advent and the Feast of Christ the King” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_Christ_the_King).

          All of this said, this Sunday we are celebrating specially and specifically that Jesus is Lord and King of all. In doing a little checking I found out that there are 44 Monarchies, or kings and queens, or something similar, in the world today. Many of these countries claim their queen to be Queen Elizabeth II from England. The current Queen of England is the head of state, but not the head of government. Some kings and queens are both the official face of a country, and also the ruler of a country. Some kings and queens still hold a lot of power.

          At some points in history for example, kings or queens ruled their country or realms with great power and authority. To call Christ “King” then, is no small thing. To say that Christ is the king of all, is to say that Christ is above all rulers both past and present. For example, it says in 1 Timothy 6:14-15:

¹⁴ to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords                                (1 Tim. 6:14-15, NRSV).

          The scripture says that Jesus is supreme and above all earthly rulers. I laughed about a month ago when Melissa and I stopped by a Burger King on our way to where we were going. When I went into the men’s room there was a wall sticker by the sink. The sticker said, “All employees must wash their hands, by the order of the king.” This king is of course the Burger King, but it made me think of the idea of a king.

          In Revelation 19:16 it says of Jesus’ Lordship:

¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16, NRSV).

          Since Jesus is the king of kings, the lord of lords, and the name above all names, we have this special “Christ the King Sunday,” that celebrates King Jesus. What is funny to me is that every time we go through a major election cycle, voters vote, but the candidate that some voters really want to win is Jesus. We are so often let down when the person we voted for turns out to not be Jesus. All politicians running for office want to look holy, just, and righteous, and some of them would love to be portrayed like Jesus. Jesus is the ultimate ruler, our king, our standard, our hope. I would hope that every politician and elected official would strive to be like Jesus.

          In our reading for this morning from Psalm 132 once again, God promises that a descendant from the great King David in the Old Testament of the Bible will rule for eternity. Most Christians believe that this descendent is Jesus Christ. Jesus was related to King David, and born in Bethlehem, the same city that King David was born in. In our reading from Psalm 132 it says in 132:11-12 once again:

¹¹ The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: “One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne. ¹² If your sons keep my covenant and my decrees that I shall teach them, their sons also, forevermore, shall sit on your throne” (Ps. 132:11-12, NRSV).

          The throne of David is occupied forevermore, by the Lord Jesus Christ, who is Christ the King.

          We also hear this echoed in our reading for this morning from the Book of Revelation. Once again, it says in Revelation 1:5:

⁵ and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, (Rev. 1:5, NRSV).

          Jesus, the ruler of the kings of earth. There is a contemporary Christian band called the Casting Crowns. This band has this name, because as the scripture says the kings of this world will cast their crowns at the feet of Jesus when he returns, to acknowledge that he is indeed the king of all.

          Our scripture from the Book of Revelation continues on discussing the return of Christ to earth, as the scripture finishes with 1:7-8 saying:

⁷ Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. ⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty (Rev. 1:7-8, NRSV).

          This all leads me to my sermon title for this morning called “Did Pilate Really Know Who Jesus Was?” In our Book of John reading for this morning, Jesus is on trial. Jesus stands trial before King Herod, before the religious leaders, and of course before the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate. Our gospel reading for this morning discusses once again, Jesus before Pontius Pilate. Pilate seems to be wrestling in this reading, with trying to figure out who Jesus is. Let us look at our gospel of John reading for this morning once again. Starting in John 18:33 it says:

³³ Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” ³⁵ Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” ³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” ³⁷ Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice”     (Jn. 18:33-37, NRSV).

          It would appear that Pilate does not really understand or accept who Jesus is. Pilate clearly believes that in order to be a king, you must have land, money, castles, soldiers, and power. Jesus has none of these things on earth, as he stands before Pilate. Jesus tries to explain that his kingdom is much bigger and beyond the mere kingdoms of this earth. This scripture then ends with Jesus saying he is the truth and those who belong to the truth listen to Jesus’ voice. In the next verse of scripture, John 18:38 Pilate replies to Jesus asking:

What is truth?” (Jn. 18:38, NRSV).

          At this point in the gospel narrative, Pilate then finds no fault in Jesus, and offers the crowd the opportunity for Jesus or the robber Barabbas to be freed, as it was a Passover custom to release one prisoner. The crowd asks for the robber Barabbas to be freed, and for Jesus to stay imprisoned. This is what happened. I wonder though if Pilate really knew who Jesus was? Did he have any idea who was standing in front of him? Did Pilate realize that Jesus was not just a king, but that he was the king of kings and lord of lords. Pilate may have realized this but fought these feelings to protect his job and his power. Maybe Pilate had no idea who Jesus was, or maybe he just knew that he was someone special. What is true though, is that by Pilate’s order a little later, his soldiers scourged, mocked, and beat Jesus, made him carry his own cross, and then nailed him to the cross. Pilate ordered Jesus’ torture and execution. As a result of this, I have always been fascinated with Pilate, and have always wondered if he knew who Jesus really was.

          The other question regarding Pilate that has always in intrigued me is when Jesus tells Pilate that he himself and his words are the truth. Jesus said those are in truth listen to him. Pilate then replies by saying once again,

“What is truth?” (Jn. 18:38, NRSV).

          Pilate’s question was just as relevant two-thousand years ago, as it is today. What is true, and what is not? Is humanity by its nature broken and sinful? I would say so. Have you watched the news lately? Is humanity capable to living morally, ethically, and spiritually upright on our own? Well, if could, after thousands of years, wouldn’t we have done it by now?

          If as a people and as a species we cannot get it right and build a perfect world, then what do we do? We can descend into chaos, or God can come to us. God’s son Jesus Christ came to be among us, to die for us, and to teach us a new way to live, to love, and to care for each other. One could then ask, “Well if this is true, why is the world still so screwed up”? The best answer I can give, is that Christianity is a resistant movement to brokenness of the world. Will we win this battle? Only when Jesus returns. Until we die and go to be with Christ, or until he returns, we are tasked here on earth to bearers of his light, his life, and his love. We can make this world so much better than it is right now.

          The only king and the only ruler that has never let us down, that has never lied, that has never forsaken us, is Jesus Christ. It is no shock then that when some people vote they want to vote for Jesus, and they are always let down every time.

          Through Jesus Christ, our lord, our king, our hope, we are offered forgiveness, life, salvation, and eternity. If we turn from our sin and darkness, Jesus will forgive us. We can then live every day, living like and following Christ the King. For without Christ, what hope do we have? He came, he lived, and he died for us. We get to spend our lives here on earth and in eternity living for him. So, the crown I have this morning is a toy, but the true king and the eternal king ins Christ the King.

          We live in a world today where so many people say that there is no absolute truth. A friend of my family, Rev. Bob Pinto, who has since gone to glory, debated absolute truth with someone once. This dug in atheist looked as Pastor Bob and said, “there is no such thing as absolute truth!” Pastor Bob then grinned and asked the person, “are you absolutely sure about that?” Everyday I try to live like and for Jesus Christ, Christ the King, because I believe the best and only hope that this world has is gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sidney UMC - Veterans Day Sunday/Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost - 11/14/21 - Sermon - “Encouraging One Another!”

Sunday 11/14/21 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:                “Encouraging One Another!”                     

Old Testament Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:1-10                                        

New Testament Scripture: Hebrews 10:11-25 

Gospel Lesson: Mark 13:1-8

          So, I remember serving in the last two churches that I served in the Finger Lakes District of our UNYUMC, doing my first Veterans Day Sunday worship services. Each of the two churches that I served had veterans and or had family members who were veterans. The reception that I got for having worship services that honored veterans every year was great. In fact, after this first year of doing these Veterans Day worship services at these two churches, a veteran came up to me at one of the churches with tears in his eyes.

          This veteran thanked me and the church for honoring his service to his country. This veteran then went on to tell me how he was in the Army and how he went to Vietnam, during the Vietnam War. He told me that he did not enlist in the US Army, however. He said instead that he watched on television as numbers were drawn out of a rotating bingo cage. One of the numbers that was chosen was the number of the group with which he was classified. This meant that he was drafted into to the US Army. This meant that he was likely going to go and fight in Vietnam. He went to basic training, and sure enough went over to Vietnam as a Us Army Infantry Soldier. He served his time, saw, and experienced various things, and made some good friends.

          He then told me that we he got home, it was very different from when his family members were in World War II. When those soldiers came home, there were parades, fanfare, cheering, and the soldiers were heroes. Then tearing up this veteran told me that when he got home from Vietnam there were no parades, and some even tried to spit on him, and some even called him a “baby killer.”

          He was drafted in the US Army, he fought in a war, he served his country, and when he got home, he felt treated like a criminal or an outcast. When this man camp up to me after first Veterans Day Sunday service I did at his church, he thanked me that his church and his pastor cared enough about his service and his sacrifice to honor and acknowledge him.

          Honoring our Veterans my friends is not the same thing as promoting war. Instead, it is about honoring the sacrifice, the suffering, and the experiences that our brave men and women have been through. Further, it is not just our country that has a special day for this. Many countries around the world do the same. As we think about the history of our country and the wars that many soldiers have been involved in, some of us might think in our heads that all of our wars were unjustified. Some of us might think some of our wars were justified and others not. What I hope though, is that we call all agree on honoring those who have served. Honoring our Veterans is something I believe that we should all do, and they deserve our respect and our love.

          In researching the history and purpose of Veterans Day, I found this:

“Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans, who are people who have served in the United States Armed Forces (that were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable). It coincides with other holidays including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day which are celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. At the urging of major U.S. veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954. Veterans Day is distinct from Memorial Day, a U.S. public holiday in May. Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who had died while in military service (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day). 

          So again, many countries do this, and as part of our worship this morning we honor all of our veterans and their families.

          In looking at our scriptures for this morning, we hear in our Book of Hebrews reading once again, that Jesus is once and for all sacrifice of the sins of humanity (Heb. 10:11-14, NRSV). In fact, the scriptures say once again of Jesus, starting in 10:15:

¹⁵ And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, ¹⁶ “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,” ¹⁷ he also adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” ¹⁸ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin (Heb. 10:15-18, NRSV).

          God is with us, and through his son Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven. Through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, all of us are made worthy before almighty God. I have seen in my life some veterans that needed to hear that were forgiven by Jesus Christ.

          I remember I went a three day Walk to Emmaus men’s retreat some years ago. At this certain retreat of the many I had participated in, we had a veteran of the Vietnam War. This man was a “Tunnel Rat” who sought out enemy soldiers in underground tunnels. This man was exposed to agent orange and had PTSD from his time in the service. One night on this retreat weekend, this man rededicated his life to Jesus Christ, and he told us at breakfast the next morning that the night before was the first full night’s sleep that he had since coming back from Vietnam in the 1970s. He knew he was forgiven, and he began to make peace with himself. War is an awful thing, and it is important to honor and recognize our veterans.

          I really like how our reading from the Book Hebrews for this morning ends once again. The scripture for this morning concludes with 10:24-25 saying:

²⁴ And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Heb. 10:24-25, NRSV).

          When we gather to worship, when we gather as Christians, there are different kinds of people. We all are not the same age, and we all have different background and different stories. Yet we are all part of the body of Christ, and everyone is welcome. In fact, some of these people are veterans, and it is important acknowledge who they are, and their service.

          In looking at our gospel lesson from this morning once again, Jesus predicts that the great temple in Jerusalem will be destroyed. In fact, 30-40 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection the great temple was destroyed. All that exists of where the temple used to be is the stone wall commonly referred to as the “Wailing Wall.” This is the wall that people pray at and put prayer notes into, between the stones.

          Jesus then ends this gospel of Mark reading once again with 13:5-8 saying:

⁵ Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. ⁶ Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. ⁷ When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. ⁸ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs (Mk. 13:5-8, NRSV).

          Jesus reminds us to follow him, to put our trust in him, and in him alone. Jesus predicts wars, upheavals, and famines. He is of course speaking prophetically about his second coming, but since Jesus was resurrected there has been a ton of wars.

          I truly pray for the day of no more wars. I pray for the day that no more soldiers will have to go off and fight. Yet, we live in the real world, and we know that the world we live in is fallen. We live in a world full of brokenness, sin, and some real danger. The people that defend this country in battle, are our soldiers.

          As a Christian, I seek peace, hope, love, and prosperity, but since Jesus rose from the dead almost two-thousand years ago there has been so much war and so much violence. Will it ever end? I know it will end when Jesus returns. Until then, I believe that the best thing we can do is to follow Jesus, to love each other, to care for all people, and to work towards making a better world. Do I hope that in doing this there will be no more wars? I do, but I have to say that after the centuries of human history, I am naïve to the realities of this world.

          As result, let us continue to be peace makers, hope bringers, and people who shine the light, the life, and the love of Jesus Christ everywhere we go. As the great quote goes, “War is Hell” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Is_Hell), but I still pray for no more war. Even though the history of humanity has not been very good this area.

          We are proud of our veterans, our current men and women serving in our armed services, and we have hope for a better tomorrow. May we actively work through God’s grace to build it, to promote it, and to seek it. May we look back in 20-years and say that we have not had a war in 20-years. This is my hope, this my prayer, but whatever happens, God is good, Jesus died for us, and veterans deserved to be honored and thanked. Happy Veterans Day Sunday. Amen.

Sidney UMC - All Saints Sunday/Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost - 11/07/21 - Sermon - “Becoming a Saint”

Sunday 11/07/21 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:                   “Becoming a Saint”                     

Old Testament Scripture: Isaiah 25:6-9                                       

New Testament Scripture: Revelation 21:1-6a 

Gospel Lesson: John 11:32-44

          Since I was very young child, I remember hearing the word “Saint.” I don’t just mean the song “When the Saints Go Marching In,” or the NFL team from New Orleans, but I heard the word “Saint,” periodically. In fact, growing up in a family that was mostly Roman Catholic, I would hear the word “Saint” a lot in reference to a church. I was baptized at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Woodstock Illinois, as a baby, for example.

           I have also heard some people say of someone, “He is a Saint,” or “She is a Saint.” Not knowing fully what the word “Saint” meant when I was a kid, I did know that the word “Saint” was a good thing. In fact, I never heard the word “Saint” in a bad way. I mean after all, there are churches that have names starting with the word “Saint.” The obvious question on this All-Saints Sunday then, is what is a “Saint”?

          Here is one definition of a “Saint” that I found:

“In religious belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term saint depends on the context and denomination”. “In Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Oriental Orthodox, and Lutheran doctrine, all of their faithful deceased in Heaven are considered to be saints, but some are considered worthy of greater honor or emulation;” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint).

          In the history of the Methodist Movement, we would generally agree upon the following around “Saints”:

“While Methodists as a whole do not venerate saints, they do honor and admire them. Methodists believe that all Christians are saints, but mainly use the term to refer to biblical figures, Christian leaders, and martyrs of the faith. Many Methodist churches are named after saints—such as the Twelve Apostles, John Wesley, etc.—although most are named after geographical locations associated with an early circuit or prominent location. Methodist congregations observe All Saints' Day. Many encourage the study of saints, that is, the biographies of holy people” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint#Methodism).

          So, in the Methodist view, all Christians are “Saints,” or as I like to say, “Saints in training.” We who love Jesus Christ will one day live and reign with him forever in glory. In some Christian traditions and denominations certain exemplary men and women are made “Saints” of the church, and these saints are basically the “best” of the “Saints.” These “Saints” are the ones that we see some churches, schools, and or other organizations are named after. In some Christian traditions and denominations some saints are in a special category, but I believe that we are all “saints,” all “saints in training”.

          This past Monday on November 1^st, we had All Saints Day, as a day to recognize the saints of the church. Some churches, like ours tend to celebrate this day as “All Saint Sunday,” as “All Saints Day” generally falls on a weekday. We generally do not have a lot of weekday church services. To define All Saints Day or All Saint Sunday, let me read to you this:

All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows' Day, the Feast of All Saints, the Feast of All Hallows, the Solemnity of All Saints, and Hallowmas, is a Christian solemnity celebrated in honour of all the saints of the church, whether they are known or unknown (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints%27_Day#Protestant_observances).

          Today then, amidst worshipping God, amidst growing closer to Christ, and calling upon the Holy Spirit, we are honoring the saints of this church, and saints in general. The reason that I read out the names of the saints of this church, is that I think that it is good to remember those men and women that have gone before us. Those men and women that are now part of what the Book of Hebrews 12:1 calls “a great cloud of witnesses” (Heb. 12:1, NRSV).

          As you look around this church and most churches you see names. You see names on metal plaques, you see names on stained glass windows, and in other places. While they might be just names to some, they are much more than that. They are the names of just some of the saints that were a part of this church. Names of men and women who loved Jesus, and gave their blood, sweat, and tears to ministry and mission of Jesus Christ. Is it right then on All Saints Day and All Saints Sunday to remember those saints that have went before us? Absolutely, our churches would not be here without them. As many of you have heard me say many times, as Christians “we stand in a line of heroes, and we stand on the shoulders of giants.” We are where are, because of those who have gone before us. Our congregations, our churches are all here, because of those that have went before us.

          This fact will hopefully embolden our faith, and truly reveal to us that we are all indeed part of something much greater than ourselves. This is not just a church building, but is place where countless baptisms, marriages, confirmations, worship services, and people giving there lives to Jesus Christ have happened. This is place where countless lives have been changed. We who are on this side of the curtain of heaven have the time that we have been given here on earth, to strive to one day become part of “a great cloud of witnesses.”

          As I have also said before, as I look around and see all of these names, not having known any of them, I have no problem telling you that I want them all to be proud of me. I want them to be proud of you. I want the saints that have went before us to see us, and I want them to be proud that we have kept the faith, that we are serving Christ, and that our churches are strong because of our love for Jesus and one another. This is why me sermon for this morning is called “Becoming a Saint.” We are all saints, and all saints in training. The saints that really stand out in history however, like St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta and St. Augustine where people that had great challenges here on earth. Just because your name and life might be elevated to an extremely prominent level, you are being raised to that level likely because your life was not easy. Mother Teresa’s life was hard, as served a Catholic Nun in India for several years. She worked among the poorest of the poor. To be saint then is not personal glorification. Being a saint is becoming a servant of all and following Christ. Some in the world may glorify you, but sometimes your days are filled with sacrifice and hardship. People may admire what you do, and the impact of what you do, although they themselves would not want to make such sacrifices. To be a saint is to be willing to sacrifice, willing to suffer, and willing to be the last, the least, and the most unimportant. We often admire such people, but do not want to be such people. This is what is means in “Becoming a Saint.”

          The role of a United Methodist Pastor is to the preach the gospel and the scriptures, administer the sacraments of the church, which are Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper, and Baptism. The pastor is to care for the church and the community and order the life of the church. Part of this is equipping the saints, all of us for ministry. A good pastor is helping you to become even more of a saint. A good pastor is encouraging and helping you to grow in your faith, so that you can better pursue the ways that God is calling you to love, serve, and share the love of Jesus Christ with the world.

          I really like our New Testament scripture from Revelation 21:1-6a for this morning. This scripture talks about the return of Christ and all the saints of heaven. Once again, this scripture says:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ² And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Rev. 21:1-2, NRSV).

          This glorious image of Jesus returning to earth, as all the angel and saints rejoicing. That great heavenly banquet feast of the Lord.

The scripture then continues on to say:

³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; ⁴ he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away” (Rev. 21:3-4, NRSV). 

          When Jesus our Lord returns to dwell with us, he will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Death will be no more, and there will also be no more crying and pain. Saints on earth, saints in training are working to make this earth as much like heaven as possible, until Christ returns and finally makes it fully a reality.

          Our scripture from the Book of Revelation for this morning ends once again saying:

⁵ And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ⁶ Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end (Rev. 21:5-6a, NRSV).

God is eternal, God is on His throne, and when it is all said and done, God “the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end” will make all things new.

          In our gospel of John lesson for this morning, we once again have the story of Jesus resurrecting Lazarus from the dead. Mary and Martha and many were greatly grief stricken over the death of Lazarus, and Jesus wept over Lazarus’ death (Jn. 11:32-37, NRSV). Jesus then raised Lazarus from the dead, after being dead for four days (Jn. 11:38-44, NRSV). Jesus shows us that he has power over sin and death. Having this saving knowledge of Jesus, we as saints, or saints in training ,can live freely and boldly for Jesus Christ.

          In closing this message for this morning, I want to share with you some scriptures on saints, in light of this our All Saints Sunday. It says in 1 Corinthians 1:2:

² To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: (1 Cor. 1:2, NRSV).

          It says in Romans 1:7:

⁷ To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ           (Rom. 1:7, NRSV).

          In Philippians 4:21-22:

²¹ Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The friends who are with me greet you. ²² All the saints greet you, especially those of the emperor’s household (Phil. 4:21-22, NRSV). 

In the Book of Daniel, it says in 7:22:

²² until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. (Dan. 7:22, NKJV).

One last scripture is Colossians 1:12 that says: 

¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light (Col. 1:12, NRSV).

          So, what is a Saint once again? A saint is:

“is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God”.

          We are all saints, we are all saints in training. This means we are called live holy and righteous lives, knowing full well that we will all at times fail at this. We know that we have made mistakes, and that we all have done some pretty bone headed things in our lives. We are forgiven, if we turn to Christ, and when we fall and stumble, which we all will, we turn to Jesus and keep going. Saints are not perfect, but they are striving for holiness, righteous, and yes perfection. May we all strive to be saints. Happy All Saints Day. Amen.