SERMON
Journeying in Faith: Who's In Our Family?
BY LAURIE LEWIS
We are made in God's image and yet look at all the differences around the world. In the 1700's, 1800's and 1900's our ancestors came to America, the land of opportunity. They brought with them talents, trades and hard work. And they were successful.. They enriched our country.
When God gathers all nations around the throne, in the new heaven and new earth, there will be an array of ethnic groups, each offering praises in their own way. We see a microcosm of that in the varied ways churches around the world worship God.
Jesus wants us to practice this welcome now. He wants us to know we are all in the same family, we are commanded to care for each other as God cares for us. To take down the walls that separate us and build a bigger table. To see that piece of God in everyone we meet.
Matthew 25: 34-40
"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"
Let’s start with- who are The Least of These.
That would be the outsiders, the ones who look like they don’t belong, who eat different foods, speak another language, or cannot find a home. Oh wait- doesn’t that describe Jesus?
Jesus commands us to feed the hungry and welcome the stranger. Hunger is addressed over 2,000 times in the Bible. Far More than going to Heaven. Jesus is more concerned with what we do with our faith, how we serve his kingdom here, by caring for others, than us trying to get into Heaven.
We began a monthly Community dinner over a year ago asking the congregation to help by setting up, cooking, or eating with someone you don’t know. Last month we had 110 people attending. Can you help feed a stranger?The "ThanksLiving" Poster and gift card collection is in the Lobby as well. You can purchase $25 gift cards to be donated to Bucks County Housing Group, A Woman’s Place or Lenape Valley Mental Health to buy food or help those in need with Christmas.
As we saw in the Mission video- There are many causes for someone to be hungry or unhoused. They aren’t lazy. Many feel hopeless. Vets who struggle with PTSD. Women who are abused. Teens who have been kicked out of their homes because they are gay. Many different situations - people who need to be seen, feel our kindness, not our judgment. People who need us to see that piece of God in them.
Our Mission of the Month is Coalition to Shelter and Support the Homeless. They help run the Code Blue shelters that open when the temperature is below 28degrees. There is training here on the 21st. More info is on our Website or thru Randy Hume.
We often despair thinking how can I help? The problems seem so big and I’m just one person. Ask God to open your eyes and your heart to see the divine opportunities he has put in front of you.
Our Pastor’s Discretionary Fund is another resource for people who need help. Contribute to that in a pink envelope and write on it Pastor’s Discretionary fund or PDF.
We desperately need peace in ourselves, our neighbors and in the world. So many people seem to have a short fuse and are easily angered. We need to be like Christ and model kindness especially when we witness prejudice or injustice. Believe that everyone is trying their best.
We don’t know their backpack, what they carry- the difficulties they have had in life, the worries about family/work/their health, their self-esteem. I recognize we all feel differently about immigrants in our society. Jesus was not political- he wanted everyone treated with respect. Leave the judgment to God. Care for the person in front of you like you would want to be treated. Our society is a beautiful mosaic of personalities and cultures much like a stained glass window.
God has created a world of differences, each complementary to another, representing a large family here on earth. And he has asked us to feed the hungry and welcome the stranger. How can you follow his direction this week and care for God’s family?
When God gathers all nations around the throne, in the new heaven and new earth, there will be an array of ethnic groups, each offering praises in their own way. We see a microcosm of that in the varied ways churches around the world worship God.
Jesus wants us to practice this welcome now. He wants us to know we are all in the same family, we are commanded to care for each other as God cares for us. To take down the walls that separate us and build a bigger table. To see that piece of God in everyone we meet.
Matthew 25: 34-40
"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"
Let’s start with- who are The Least of These.
That would be the outsiders, the ones who look like they don’t belong, who eat different foods, speak another language, or cannot find a home. Oh wait- doesn’t that describe Jesus?
Jesus commands us to feed the hungry and welcome the stranger. Hunger is addressed over 2,000 times in the Bible. Far More than going to Heaven. Jesus is more concerned with what we do with our faith, how we serve his kingdom here, by caring for others, than us trying to get into Heaven.
We began a monthly Community dinner over a year ago asking the congregation to help by setting up, cooking, or eating with someone you don’t know. Last month we had 110 people attending. Can you help feed a stranger?The "ThanksLiving" Poster and gift card collection is in the Lobby as well. You can purchase $25 gift cards to be donated to Bucks County Housing Group, A Woman’s Place or Lenape Valley Mental Health to buy food or help those in need with Christmas.
As we saw in the Mission video- There are many causes for someone to be hungry or unhoused. They aren’t lazy. Many feel hopeless. Vets who struggle with PTSD. Women who are abused. Teens who have been kicked out of their homes because they are gay. Many different situations - people who need to be seen, feel our kindness, not our judgment. People who need us to see that piece of God in them.
Our Mission of the Month is Coalition to Shelter and Support the Homeless. They help run the Code Blue shelters that open when the temperature is below 28degrees. There is training here on the 21st. More info is on our Website or thru Randy Hume.
We often despair thinking how can I help? The problems seem so big and I’m just one person. Ask God to open your eyes and your heart to see the divine opportunities he has put in front of you.
Our Pastor’s Discretionary Fund is another resource for people who need help. Contribute to that in a pink envelope and write on it Pastor’s Discretionary fund or PDF.
We desperately need peace in ourselves, our neighbors and in the world. So many people seem to have a short fuse and are easily angered. We need to be like Christ and model kindness especially when we witness prejudice or injustice. Believe that everyone is trying their best.
We don’t know their backpack, what they carry- the difficulties they have had in life, the worries about family/work/their health, their self-esteem. I recognize we all feel differently about immigrants in our society. Jesus was not political- he wanted everyone treated with respect. Leave the judgment to God. Care for the person in front of you like you would want to be treated. Our society is a beautiful mosaic of personalities and cultures much like a stained glass window.
God has created a world of differences, each complementary to another, representing a large family here on earth. And he has asked us to feed the hungry and welcome the stranger. How can you follow his direction this week and care for God’s family?