WEBVTT 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:19.200 Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:20.720 Blessed be God. 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:25.600 Let's pray together. 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:34.000 Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid. 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:46.960 Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name through Christ our Lord. 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:47.759 Amen. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:00.240 Let us pray. 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:12.879 Grant, O merciful God, that your church, being together together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples to the glory of your name. 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:19.200 Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.240 Amen. 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:24.240 As you're being seated, our children are invited to children's chapel in the back of the Mr. 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:24.799 House. 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:23.839 In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge. 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:29.759 And your righteousness deliver me and set me free. 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:37.200 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:43.519 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked. 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:50.079 For you are my hope, O Lord God. 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:55.839 I've been sustained by you ever since I was born. 00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:58.559 From my mother's womb, you have been my strength. 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:39.839 For they could not endure the order that was given. 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:44.640 If every animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death. 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:50.880 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, I tremble with fear. 00:18:52.079 --> 00:19:21.759 But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels and festival gatherings, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirit of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:36.079 For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns us from heaven? 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:39.200 At that time his voice shook the earth. 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:41.200 But now he has a promise. 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:46.559 Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven. 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:52.720 Yet once more indicates the removal of what is shaken. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:55.200 That is a created thing. 00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:58.400 So that what cannot be shaken may remain. 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:13.279 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe for indeed our God is a consuming fire. 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:16.559 Hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people. 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:23.680 The holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke. 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:30.640 Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:35.839 And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for 18 years. 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:39.359 She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:45.839 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, Woman, you are set free from your ailment. 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:51.599 When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. 00:22:52.000 --> 00:23:01.039 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the Sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, There are six days on which work ought to be done. 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:04.480 Come on those days and be cured, and not on the Sabbath day. 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:14.319 But the Lord answered him and said, You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie their ox or their donkey from the manger and lead it away to give it water? 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:24.799 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whose Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day? 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:32.720 And Jesus said this, all his opponents were put to shame, and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing. 00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:36.400 The gospel of the Lord. 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:05.759 Turn around and believe that the good news that we are loved is better than we ever dared hope. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:16.400 And that to believe in that good news, to live out of it and toward it, to be in love with that good news, is of all glad things in this world the gladdest of all. 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:17.440 Amen. 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:22.240 Come, Lord Jesus, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.200 Amen. 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:28.160 That's a line from Frederick Biekner, who unfortunately passed into larger life this week. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:34.880 And if you don't know Frederick Biegner's work, it's pretty lovely, so much so that I include it in the back of your bulletin. 00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:39.359 I probably shouldn't tell you this now, but if you get bored during the sermon, this is a good thing to do. 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:46.720 You can turn to the back page and you can read Frederick Biekner's take on the prophet Jeremiah. 00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:51.599 And I hope that you will enjoy that souvenir because he's a powerful writer. 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:55.680 From Alphabet to Grace to other blogs, he has a way with words. 00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:58.160 And I'll reference a couple of those as we go. 00:24:58.400 --> 00:25:00.720 So you'll get a break from Mary Oliver today. 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:16.079 I want to start talking about the prophet Jeremiah because I think I should have asked Jim before this, but almost any time my experience in seminary, you read something like this, and the focus is on the call to ministry. 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:22.480 And what that looks like, and frankly, how people resist it. 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:28.480 Now we all know this was a book written to a real person long time ago. 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:31.839 This is an individual person who is with us no more. 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:41.279 But we keep this alive because we hear God, I think, talking not only to someone long ago, but to us. 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:50.799 So when you hear, I knew you and appointed you a prophet to the nations, we could say, cool thing God did with that guy, Jeremiah. 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:56.799 To our detriment, scary thing God is appointing you to do and me. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:02.240 To the nations, well, it helps that Houston's the most diverse city in the United States. 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:06.960 I don't know if y'all knew that, more so than New York City or Los Angeles. 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:10.799 So wherever you go in Houston, let me tell you, you're a prophet to the nations. 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:16.559 Oh, Mike, I don't go around saying in 27 days such and such is going to happen. 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:18.799 Of course, prophets never did that anyway. 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:27.200 A prophet is frankly somebody who represents God and speaks a message that God would speak. 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:32.000 Well, at least that's the prophets that we lawed. 00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:37.279 The scripture is worried about false prophets, is worried about them. 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:40.720 I'm worried about the false prophecy that comes out of my mouth. 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:45.440 More on that in a minute, when we get to the gospel, because it confronts us with that. 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:53.279 The thing about this call to ministry that's so interesting is not only are we called, notice that Jeremiah gives this excuse. 00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:58.480 Really, everybody in the Bible who God says do this thing says, pick somebody else. 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:00.000 No, thank you. 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:03.920 Remember, Moses tried to run away a bunch of times. 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:06.079 A bunch of times. 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:09.039 And he's like the good guy, Moses. 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:19.039 Here's Jeremiah saying, I don't know how to talk, and God says this interesting thing that if you hear nothing else, hear this today. 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:24.720 God says to Jeremiah, too bad you don't have as much faith in you as I do. 00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:33.279 Too bad you don't have as much faith in yourself as I do in you. 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:40.079 You see, when somebody can't change, why would you berate them? 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:42.720 There's nothing they can do. 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:48.160 This whole story is predicated on the fact that God believes we can. 00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:54.319 And God believes Jeremiah can even when he doesn't agree. 00:27:56.640 --> 00:28:06.160 So when we touch holy things like the table and the sacraments and baptism and education, we get it all wrong when we think it works because of us. 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:07.039 No, no, no. 00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:11.519 It works not because of our faith in God, but because of God's faith in us. 00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:14.720 This is what God is saying to Jeremiah. 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:17.359 I believe in you more than you believe in yourself. 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.720 Now get up and go. 00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:24.640 Because truth be told, we're going to be a prophet to the nations whether we're willing or not. 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:29.279 Notice what he is charged to do. 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:37.519 Pluck up, tear down, destroy, overthrow, and then build and plant. 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:39.039 Do you notice that? 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:47.920 Those four sort of harsh things helps us remember, right, that if we speak the truth and we hurt somebody else, we didn't do it right. 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:52.559 Because speaking the truth and causing injury does not plant or build up. 00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:59.359 Also reminds us, though, that there is junk in the way and that needs clearing out. 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:03.119 We heard this last week when we talked about fire. 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:26.880 We get to hear it again this week: reminder that fire is not to punish, fire is to tear up, to pluck up, to overthrow, to destroy those things that get in the way of loving ourselves and one another as God already loves us. 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:30.160 This is what we are called to do. 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:32.240 This is your call to ministry. 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:42.240 Some of us wear one of these things, but I want you to remember in the prayer book, the church is a ministry, order of importance. 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:44.000 Everybody. 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:51.279 And then some deacons, and then a couple of priests, and probably some fewer bishops. 00:29:52.240 --> 00:30:08.160 And the first group called is everybody in the room to represent God to the nations and tear down the junk that's getting in the way so we can build and plant and cultivate what God has in mind. 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:21.680 So if you grew up like me, when you hear this line in Hebrews, our God is a consuming fire, it actually takes me to a place of fear. 00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:31.440 Because I was taught to hear that is God is so powerful that God will get even with you when you're done. 00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:34.559 God will consume you. 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:46.720 Of course, what I love about doing Bible study with people, and this came out this week at the men's study, somebody said, Well, I always grew up thinking God was powerful enough to fix whatever I got wrong. 00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:51.119 And I thought, wish I'd grown up that way. 00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:55.759 Because when you read this, notice how it begins. 00:30:57.200 --> 00:31:00.640 You have not come to the mountain of fear. 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:01.839 You have not. 00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:06.640 Moses was afraid, he trembled with fear. 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:07.920 Don't. 00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:10.160 Don't. 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:20.000 You heard me say a couple of weeks ago, outdoor training says, do not make important decisions when you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. 00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:26.480 I want to add, when you're afraid, because you know when I'm afraid, what I do is my worst thinking. 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:42.000 That's when I live into the smallest part of my brain, that's called the limbic system, and I do things, frankly, that are very aggressive or defensive, and I don't come up here to this extra part of my brain and say, that's a human being in front of you. 00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:45.279 That's a human being in front of you. 00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:54.559 When I get myself from the limbic system, it's really easy to hate the person that God loves. 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:58.559 And God says, Why don't you tear that down? 00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:01.759 Why don't you pluck it down? 00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:05.599 And then why don't you let me consume that? 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:08.160 Let me consume that. 00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:14.079 There's this myth that goes around sometimes that Jewish folks were sure legalistic. 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:17.920 And that's the problem here in the Gospel of Luke. 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:21.920 And listen, we get that so wrong, and this is one of the roots of anti-Semitism. 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:25.680 So I would be remiss if I did not tell you a rabbinical story. 00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:29.039 Let me tell you how legalistic our Jewish sisters and brothers are. 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:33.200 Once upon a time, there was a really gross person who was hateful in me. 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:35.519 Hateful and me. 00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:44.000 Everybody tried over and over again to fix this guy, and sure enough, he had lots of resources. 00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:49.759 And on his deathbed, he was trying to get right with the Lord. 00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:59.759 Now the angels in heaven were so worried God would forgive him that they locked the gates. 00:33:02.880 --> 00:33:12.400 And then there's this great ending, which is God bored a hole underneath the throne in heaven so that his voice could come to God. 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:17.440 If that's legalistic, I hope I'm legalistic too. 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:32.160 Because here's the story about the Sabbath in Luke that I think we could so easily get wrong if we take the position that synagogue leader. 00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:34.160 Glad I'm not like him. 00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:36.000 What a jerk. 00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:41.839 The question we always ask is where are we in the story? 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:46.799 Now look, this is a story about a thing that happened a long time ago to one lady. 00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:56.400 But we miss the opportunity to interact with the scriptures if we just say this is a thing that happened I've never seen, but cool that God does that. 00:33:57.680 --> 00:34:00.720 Instead, I think the question we have to consider is this. 00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:11.039 Or her C5 is bad. 00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:20.239 Whatever you hear in that, the lady is stooped over, but I hope what you're hearing in the story too is she's not just physically bound over. 00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:24.559 She can't stand up straight among her own people. 00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:29.679 Among her own people, she can't stand up straight. 00:34:29.840 --> 00:34:35.039 Now look, I don't have scoliosis, but I got trouble standing up in front of my own people sometimes. 00:34:35.199 --> 00:34:36.079 Don't you? 00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:38.960 Well, this is what the story says is. 00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:47.599 Don't let whatever burden you see this lady carry get in the way of you saying, straighten up, sister, you're home here. 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:50.800 Hear the difference. 00:34:51.039 --> 00:34:54.320 We're not telling each other, you better straighten up. 00:34:55.360 --> 00:34:58.880 We're saying, stand proud here. 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:01.280 Stand proud. 00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:06.639 Now look, sometimes we'd like to tell ourselves, we would be so much more gracious. 00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:09.440 But keep in mind, this isn't church, this is the synagogue. 00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:12.639 People are there to study and interact. 00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:18.960 Any teacher you have in college, real thrilled with this behavior, they'd say, do it after class. 00:35:19.280 --> 00:35:21.360 We came here to learn. 00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:27.360 Y'all know this story because I've told it, but I can't stop telling it. 00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:29.360 This is an easy one, right? 00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:34.320 Seven years ago, somebody came into church at eight o'clock and I was given a good sermon. 00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:35.280 I mean, really good. 00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:37.119 The Pope was probably listening. 00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:39.039 I was so eloquent that day. 00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:43.519 And sure enough, right in the middle, this guy had the nerve to stand up and start talking. 00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:45.360 I don't even know what he said. 00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:47.039 I'm gonna be honest, I have no idea what he said. 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:48.480 Even in real time, I didn't. 00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:50.960 And somehow, by the grace of God, I didn't say anything back. 00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:52.320 I just stood there. 00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:54.719 That's a miracle. 00:35:56.960 --> 00:36:01.440 He got done talking and he said, Hey, really enjoyed being here, and just walked out the door. 00:36:01.920 --> 00:36:06.000 No, I was the only person in the room that knew he had bipolar schizophrenia. 00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:08.719 Everybody else in the room was looking for the exit. 00:36:09.840 --> 00:36:11.280 I'm not kidding. 00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:13.280 Some of y'all were there. 00:36:15.840 --> 00:36:19.679 And it occurred to me, moment of grace. 00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:24.000 That might be the only time in that man's life. 00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:30.079 People let him talk till he was done, and he got to leave on his own terms. 00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:36.400 And that became the sermon for the day. 00:36:36.719 --> 00:36:42.159 But I want you to know later in that day, I thought, wow, that was really, really good. 00:36:42.239 --> 00:36:47.199 And then I actually kind of had a breakdown moment because I thought, I don't know if I could do that every week. 00:36:48.719 --> 00:36:50.000 So that's real. 00:36:50.800 --> 00:36:51.840 That's real. 00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:55.440 And I'm in the story. 00:36:56.239 --> 00:37:01.360 Sometimes, and this is important for you to hear, sometimes maybe we're not the synagogue leaders. 00:37:01.440 --> 00:37:03.599 Sometimes we actually get to be the Lord in the story. 00:37:03.679 --> 00:37:07.920 And notice the story uses the word, the Lord told them. 00:37:08.800 --> 00:37:11.840 Let me tell you how y'all were the Lord for me one time. 00:37:12.159 --> 00:37:13.760 Well, for about four years. 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:20.880 Once upon a time, there was this little long red-haired girl who had played peekaboo with the parish under the Lord's table. 00:37:22.480 --> 00:37:27.360 And the priest thought this shouldn't happen, but by the grace of God, he didn't tell her to quit. 00:37:30.159 --> 00:37:37.360 And y'all were the Lord in the story because you said that little girl ought to be able to stand up or crouch down in the Lord's home. 00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:48.480 You said being interrupted by life is why we're here anyway. 00:37:51.679 --> 00:37:55.199 Even when that little girl climbs on top of my head. 00:37:57.280 --> 00:38:00.000 You see, it's cute when it's children. 00:38:00.400 --> 00:38:01.360 We get that. 00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:06.320 But I hear Jesus calling us to consider what if it is children? 00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:09.920 I'm gonna say something I probably shouldn't right now. 00:38:10.320 --> 00:38:12.800 I've been talking to a couple of folks. 00:38:13.679 --> 00:38:15.920 I told you I probably shouldn't say this. 00:38:16.719 --> 00:38:19.039 What about gender transformation therapy? 00:38:19.119 --> 00:38:21.039 That seems real controversial nowadays. 00:38:21.119 --> 00:38:23.039 And what do you think about that? 00:38:23.920 --> 00:38:27.199 I got a lot of thoughts about everything. 00:38:27.519 --> 00:38:32.159 My wife tells me I've got this long book series in my home called My Opinion. 00:38:32.320 --> 00:38:34.719 It's in about 48 volumes. 00:38:38.079 --> 00:38:40.639 And by the grace of God, here's what I think. 00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:45.599 Those people, wherever they are, want to come to church and be nourished at God's table. 00:38:45.679 --> 00:38:47.039 I am not getting in their way. 00:38:47.199 --> 00:38:48.159 And you aren't either. 00:38:48.320 --> 00:38:49.679 Not while I'm here. 00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:53.760 They could be wrong. 00:38:54.239 --> 00:38:56.000 I could be wrong. 00:38:56.639 --> 00:39:03.599 All the more reason we come because of God's faith in us to this table, not because we've earned it. 00:39:04.400 --> 00:39:10.320 If you think somebody's wrong, they need the Lord's presence more than anybody. 00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:14.159 So why would we do anything else? 00:39:14.719 --> 00:39:20.880 Stand up straight in the house of the Lord, which, as we know, is the earth. 00:39:21.199 --> 00:39:26.400 Stand up straight at your home, because I don't know what you're going through, but I know you need grace. 00:39:26.800 --> 00:39:36.159 Stand up straight because most of us know the physical burdens hurt, but the suffering comes from the other kind. 00:39:42.079 --> 00:39:44.239 This is the Lord's challenge to us. 00:39:45.679 --> 00:39:47.599 What do you need to pluck up? 00:39:49.039 --> 00:39:57.280 To destroy, to overthrow, so that the gospel can be planted and cultivated and grown. 00:40:00.559 --> 00:40:02.880 I started out with Frederick Biener. 00:40:07.199 --> 00:40:10.719 He's got a couple, he's got I've got a page of options here. 00:40:11.440 --> 00:40:13.519 I'm not gonna read the whole page. 00:40:17.199 --> 00:40:23.920 Here is a lovely one that I find myself thinking about when I'm being the synagogue leader. 00:40:24.000 --> 00:40:26.719 And of course, I never like to think of myself as that role. 00:40:26.800 --> 00:40:28.480 I always like to be the good person. 00:40:29.679 --> 00:40:33.840 Of the seven daily sins, anger is possibly the most fun. 00:40:35.199 --> 00:40:57.280 To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontation still to come, or to the last toothsome morsel, both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back, in many ways, it is a feast fit for a king. 00:40:57.679 --> 00:41:01.199 The chief drawback is that what you are whoofing down is yourself. 00:41:01.679 --> 00:41:05.360 The skeleton at the feast is you. 00:41:08.320 --> 00:41:14.000 Now, I probably shouldn't say this again, but I'm going to anyway. 00:41:15.679 --> 00:41:26.639 There have been years in this parish where there were like five or six of us struggling beyond our means with children we found difficult. 00:41:28.880 --> 00:41:36.480 And of course, none of us would share that because we knew people might look at us funny. 00:41:36.880 --> 00:41:39.920 That's what it means to come in the door bent over. 00:41:40.880 --> 00:41:46.559 When somebody says, I'm struggling with my child, and you say, Well, have your tribe being stricter. 00:41:47.119 --> 00:41:49.679 Welcome to being the synagogue ruler. 00:41:51.199 --> 00:41:53.280 I'm talking to myself. 00:41:54.559 --> 00:42:02.880 Welcome to being the synagogue ruler instead of I hear your struggle, I hear your pain, you stand up in here. 00:42:03.360 --> 00:42:04.880 You stand up in here. 00:42:05.199 --> 00:42:11.519 See, we don't know how this lady's problem got started, but it probably got started with a little burden. 00:42:12.079 --> 00:42:14.639 That's how most of mine get started. 00:42:16.559 --> 00:42:32.000 And the gospel says when you see somebody with a little burden, let's see if we can't help them carry it before that burden starts to bend them over more and more. 00:42:36.320 --> 00:42:42.719 Sometimes we're so bent over with our burdens, we don't even know what we'd do if we didn't have them. 00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:51.360 And it's a wild thing, isn't it, that we'll protect those burdens that are keeping us hunched over because we're scared of what other people will do if we don't. 00:42:54.960 --> 00:42:59.199 I might be the only person in the room that needs to hear these things. 00:43:04.480 --> 00:43:16.960 These things are the ministry to the nations that Jeremiah and you and I are called to proclaim on behalf of God. 00:43:19.039 --> 00:43:20.639 Let me help you stand up. 00:43:21.360 --> 00:43:22.400 Let me help you. 00:43:23.679 --> 00:43:27.360 I see you may not even want my help, that's okay. 00:43:28.079 --> 00:43:31.039 And this is where we use my favorite church strategy. 00:43:31.760 --> 00:43:35.679 Gentle pressure relentlessly applied. 00:43:46.400 --> 00:43:48.480 Well, there isn't anything else to say. 00:43:49.440 --> 00:43:52.800 So let's follow our Lord in the synagogue. 00:43:52.960 --> 00:43:58.239 And thanks be to God for the people who in our life said, Go ahead and stand up, brother. 00:43:58.400 --> 00:43:59.760 Go ahead and stand up, sister. 00:44:00.800 --> 00:44:04.559 Or at least if you can't, I'll hold you this week. 00:44:19.199 --> 00:44:26.800 Please join me as we pray our faith in the words of the Nicene Creed, and it's found on page three fifty-eight of your red prayer book. 00:44:27.199 --> 00:44:29.119 Page three hundred and fifty-eight. 00:44:34.079 --> 00:44:35.760 We believe in one God. 00:44:36.239 --> 00:44:36.960 The Father. 00:46:41.519 --> 00:46:44.639 Let us pray for the church and for the world. 00:46:45.679 --> 00:46:55.920 Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world. 00:46:56.239 --> 00:47:17.679 Lord, in your compassion, we pray for all who govern and hold authority in every nation, for the members of the armed forces throughout the world, and for all who struggle for peace and justice, that they may act with prudence and vision to plant the seeds of your kingdom everywhere. 00:47:18.000 --> 00:47:32.320 Lord, in your compassion, give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others, and to your honor and glory. 00:47:32.960 --> 00:47:47.280 Lord, in your compassion, bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them and love one another as he loves us. 00:47:47.679 --> 00:47:53.679 Lord, in your compassion, lead our parish. 00:47:54.159 --> 00:47:56.079 Source of wisdom guide us. 00:47:56.320 --> 00:47:58.639 Source of strength support us. 00:47:59.039 --> 00:48:01.920 Source of love unify us, we pray. 00:48:02.480 --> 00:48:07.199 Lord, in your compassion, guide St. 00:48:07.360 --> 00:48:24.719 Thomas the Apostle's school, that those who teach and those who learn may rejoice in the knowledge of your truth, that we may teach our students to love whatever is just and true and good, and that we may be bearers of your grace to all who come through our doors. 00:48:25.280 --> 00:48:28.800 Lord, in your compassion, prayer. 00:48:30.079 --> 00:48:35.360 Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit. 00:48:35.760 --> 00:48:41.519 Give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation. 00:48:41.920 --> 00:48:52.079 Especially Chris, Jim, Patrick, Dorothy, Miriam, Sue, and Kevin. 00:48:52.960 --> 00:48:59.280 The congregation is invited to name celebrations or petitions silently or aloud. 00:49:07.039 --> 00:49:23.039 Lord, in your compassion, we commend to your mercy all who have died, especially Joe, Casey, and Frederick Wagner, that your will for them may be fulfilled. 00:49:23.280 --> 00:49:27.599 And we pray that we may share with all your saints in your eternal kingdom. 00:49:28.159 --> 00:49:31.679 Lord, in your compassion, hear our prayer. 00:49:36.480 --> 00:49:41.440 Compassionate God, make your healing and peaceful presence known to the world. 00:49:41.760 --> 00:49:51.599 Comfort those who mourn, strengthen those who are weary, encourage those in despair, and lead us all to fullness of life. 00:49:54.960 --> 00:49:55.599 Amen. 00:50:02.400 --> 00:50:06.320 Until we confess them, however, they are an abyss between us. 00:50:06.719 --> 00:50:10.000 When we confess them, they become the bridge. 00:50:10.960 --> 00:50:13.840 So let us confess our sin against God and our neighbor. 00:51:04.159 --> 00:51:04.800 Amen. 00:51:14.320 --> 00:51:16.400 The peace of the Lord be always with you. 00:51:39.599 --> 00:51:47.039 If you're new to this or haven't done this before, in the room right behind the one we're sitting in, we call it the Narthex, are these little cards that say welcome. 00:51:47.199 --> 00:51:51.280 And we'd be tremendously grateful if you could fill one of these out so we have a record of your visit. 00:51:51.360 --> 00:51:53.119 And thanks for worshiping with us today. 00:51:53.440 --> 00:52:02.639 There's a couple announcements I want to draw to your attention this morning, but the first one is I just forgot how I gave it this into the sermon, but I just want to tell you why I love Frederick Biekner one more time. 00:52:03.360 --> 00:52:09.920 I read this thing 20 years ago, and I had the devil of a time finding it, but I remembered the gist of it, and here it is. 00:52:10.239 --> 00:52:20.079 The best thing that could happen to your church is for it to burn to the ground, and for your fax and email machines to be burned up, and for your minister to be run over by a truck. 00:52:20.559 --> 00:52:24.239 So you have nothing left except each other and God. 00:52:24.719 --> 00:52:34.000 And then I say, if you want to know what the original church was like, go to an AA meeting where everybody's the same. 00:52:35.679 --> 00:52:38.079 Okay, now for some announcements. 00:52:40.000 --> 00:52:43.440 I by the way, don't prefer not to get run over by a truck. 00:52:43.599 --> 00:52:46.559 Um, couple things that are that are going on. 00:52:46.719 --> 00:52:50.960 So we just started, and this is a regular fixture on Tuesdays. 00:52:51.199 --> 00:52:54.159 Tuesday morning is a men's lectionary Bible study. 00:52:54.239 --> 00:53:00.159 So we read the scriptures for the coming Sunday, and we have time to kind of get invested in them. 00:53:00.320 --> 00:53:07.199 And I already mentioned why I love doing that, not only because I learn from doing it, because learning with other people builds some genuine connection. 00:53:07.360 --> 00:53:08.880 You might say that's early in the morning. 00:53:08.960 --> 00:53:14.320 Well, we pick that for people who have kids to bring to school, or breakfast to cook, or work to go to. 00:53:14.480 --> 00:53:19.280 So 6 to 7, you don't need an appointment, you just walk in and we're here. 00:53:19.360 --> 00:53:24.960 Um, and there's coffee available, and that'll be again this Tuesday, Tuesday morning. 00:53:25.119 --> 00:53:30.480 Um, we're also coming up on a couple of things that are starting programmatically. 00:53:30.639 --> 00:53:33.599 We usually get going really around Labor Day. 00:53:33.679 --> 00:53:34.719 So a couple of those. 00:53:34.960 --> 00:53:38.000 First is this tremendous opportunity to join the choir. 00:53:38.159 --> 00:53:45.440 And you can talk to Garmin about this, but he probably doesn't want me to say this, but I actually have pretty full confidence that Garmin's as good as it gets. 00:53:45.599 --> 00:53:46.159 I mean it. 00:53:46.480 --> 00:53:48.320 And if you don't, you haven't been here before. 00:53:48.559 --> 00:53:54.079 And so this is an opportunity not just for you, but to tell some folks who are interested in music good news. 00:53:54.239 --> 00:53:56.800 I got somebody who will teach it for free. 00:53:57.519 --> 00:54:01.840 And that's on Sunday mornings, and then to see we get to enjoy the fruits of that ministry. 00:54:02.000 --> 00:54:06.320 So maybe you're saying, Oh, I don't know if I can do this, but I'm interested. 00:54:06.480 --> 00:54:08.800 Uh, if he can't do it, nobody can, right? 00:54:08.960 --> 00:54:14.400 So uh talk to Gurman or I if you have interesting choir, that'll be starting up, like I said, in about three weeks. 00:54:14.719 --> 00:54:20.559 The other thing that's happening, normally, you know, we have these food distributions the first Saturday of the month. 00:54:20.800 --> 00:54:25.039 And I mentioned to you the last couple we did were kind of record-breaking for us. 00:54:25.280 --> 00:54:28.639 Like I think we did 800 people within two weeks. 00:54:28.880 --> 00:54:36.639 And uh because they're closed for Labor Day, they were not going to come at all in September, and I got us in trouble. 00:54:36.719 --> 00:54:39.519 I said, Well, we could do it a different day. 00:54:39.760 --> 00:54:41.920 There's enough people who need this. 00:54:42.000 --> 00:54:45.920 And they said, Okay, how about Wednesday, September 7th at 4 p.m.? 00:54:47.119 --> 00:54:49.199 So that's our next one. 00:54:49.440 --> 00:54:51.840 Wednesday, September 7th at 4 p.m. 00:54:52.079 --> 00:54:54.159 If you want to volunteer, you can show up at 3:30. 00:54:54.239 --> 00:54:56.719 You may say, I can't get over here from school till then. 00:54:56.880 --> 00:55:04.000 Come when you can if it works, and um we're gonna rely on our pool of volunteers and God's mercy uh to pull this thing off. 00:55:04.159 --> 00:55:07.360 So that's in about two weeks from Wednesday at 4 p.m. 00:55:07.920 --> 00:55:19.440 The other thing that's starting on September 7th, we kind of have a tradition here of doing long-term studies together on Wednesdays, and we're gonna be starting a long-term study on September 7th. 00:55:19.599 --> 00:55:24.719 Um, this is a series made by the United Methodist Publishing House, CM Ecumenical. 00:55:24.880 --> 00:55:34.000 It's called Christian Believer, and it goes through in 30 weeks different topics like sanctification, worship, discipleship, sacraments. 00:55:34.239 --> 00:55:44.400 In addition to reading a study manual and the Bible, it also has writings from early church leaders, people like Augustine or middle century St. 00:55:44.639 --> 00:55:48.400 Thomas, or people like Martin Luther. 00:55:48.719 --> 00:55:56.480 So it's sort of like a systematic theology, but hopefully not as boring as that was when I had it. 00:55:56.639 --> 00:56:01.920 So um we do this together at 9 on Wednesdays 9 to 10:30. 00:56:02.000 --> 00:56:06.719 And this is hybrid, which means people are on the screen and people are in the room. 00:56:06.880 --> 00:56:09.360 And uh we record these in case you're traveling. 00:56:09.440 --> 00:56:11.599 So if you have any interest, um please let me know. 00:56:11.679 --> 00:56:15.039 I'm happy to have you look through these and see if you think it's worth your time. 00:56:15.119 --> 00:56:17.280 And look, your time's the most precious thing you have. 00:56:17.360 --> 00:56:19.519 So if it's not gonna be life-giving, don't do it. 00:56:19.679 --> 00:56:22.559 Um, but if you're interested, let's let's talk some more. 00:56:23.280 --> 00:56:26.480 Uh, two other things I want to raise to your attention. 00:56:27.199 --> 00:56:35.840 One is that um September 24th, and I know this is a long way away, but um I want you to mark it because it's it's that good. 00:56:36.000 --> 00:56:39.280 How many of you have heard Ron McFarlane play before? 00:56:39.679 --> 00:56:41.840 Uh and I don't think any of you would say, don't come. 00:56:42.000 --> 00:56:44.159 Ron McFarlane is coming back in concert. 00:56:44.239 --> 00:56:47.599 He's a Grammy nominated Lutinist. 00:56:48.079 --> 00:56:51.760 I I wanted to call him a lout, but I don't think you're supposed to. 00:56:52.000 --> 00:56:55.360 Uh Ron McFarlane's amazing. 00:56:55.519 --> 00:57:04.400 And the concert he's going to bring here with a violist as well is a downtown concert that's right here for$10. 00:57:05.039 --> 00:57:08.960 So um it's so cheap and it's so good. 00:57:09.440 --> 00:57:15.199 I really want you to consider coming and inviting friends because the quality is impeccable. 00:57:15.360 --> 00:57:21.119 And what he does is he explains the instrument and where it came from and a little bit what's going on in this lovely way. 00:57:21.199 --> 00:57:23.199 I'm glad he's not a priest, or you'd call him. 00:57:23.360 --> 00:57:28.320 So um, September 24th, 7 to 8 is Ron McFarlane. 00:57:28.480 --> 00:57:30.559 And one last thing to name. 00:57:30.719 --> 00:57:35.840 Many of you know that Alex Hillis, our family minister, has just returned from paternity leave. 00:57:36.400 --> 00:57:38.800 Alex had a baby in June. 00:57:39.039 --> 00:57:40.480 Aidan is his son. 00:57:40.719 --> 00:57:44.000 And uh, we asked Alex, hey, can we throw you a shower? 00:57:44.079 --> 00:57:46.960 And he said, Well, we don't need, we don't really need stuff. 00:57:47.440 --> 00:57:49.280 But we don't treat our people that way. 00:57:49.440 --> 00:57:55.360 So I'm inviting you to join me in making a contribution to Aiden's College Fund. 00:57:55.519 --> 00:58:01.199 So Alex can get that started with a 529 plan or something like that. 00:58:01.360 --> 00:58:11.119 If you want to do it, you can put a check in the plate, and on the on the memo, you can write Aiden College or Alex's son, whatever you want to do. 00:58:11.199 --> 00:58:15.599 And of course, we'll pool that together and give Aiden a good start. 00:58:16.320 --> 00:58:18.079 Continue to walk in love. 00:58:18.400 --> 00:58:23.679 As Christ First Loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God. 00:58:23.760 --> 00:58:24.960 And I forgot one more thing. 00:58:25.119 --> 00:58:28.960 Today is our sign-up for our Cub Scout, our Cub Scouts. 00:58:29.119 --> 00:58:36.960 This is Boys and Girls, right, who are running through Boy Scouts of America, soon to be Scouts of America. 00:58:37.119 --> 00:58:38.880 So that's today at four. 00:58:39.039 --> 00:58:41.119 And this is something you can share with the community. 00:58:41.280 --> 00:58:43.440 Of course, we have scout troops. 00:58:43.599 --> 00:58:46.159 These are the ones who earn Eagle awards. 00:58:46.320 --> 00:58:49.119 So there's a Boys Troop and a Girls Troop at St. 00:58:49.360 --> 00:58:54.239 Thomas, and we'll have our first Girl Eagle Scout in the next year, we think. 00:58:54.480 --> 00:59:02.079 And I can't tell you how happy I am that one of our members is bringing their Girl Scout troop here. 00:59:02.800 --> 00:59:03.679 And that's Val. 00:59:03.920 --> 00:59:06.159 So if you're interested, you can talk to Valerie Henson. 00:59:06.320 --> 00:59:09.199 If you're interested in knowing more about scouting, please let me know. 00:59:09.360 --> 00:59:16.559 But sign ups start today, and we're just so grateful here to support these families because it's family ministry. 00:59:16.719 --> 00:59:25.039 Scouts do things together outside in creation, and they learn about being respectful and reverent, and in that our mission too. 00:59:25.199 --> 00:59:27.599 So it's lovely to support scouts at St. 00:59:27.760 --> 00:59:30.639 Thomas, and again, the Cubs are signing up today at four. 00:59:30.960 --> 00:59:33.679 Okay, now walk in love. 00:59:34.880 --> 00:59:40.559