October 6,2019 "Peace at the Communion Table"

October 6   2 Timothy 1.1-14 “Peace at the Communion Table” Pastor Jacqueline Hines

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Communion is an international feast of thanksgiving. All around the world today, Christians are celebrating world communion Sunday. Christians are remembering the last supper Jesus attended with his disciples. At that last supper, he encouraged them to eat the bread and the fruit of the vine and remember that he was so convinced that we could be saved from our ungodly ways if we would just turn to him. He was so convinced that he kept on sharing that message, and he shared it to his own detriment. He shared it even when they hated on him. He shared it even when they were taking his very life. Then again, they did not really take his life. He gave it to them.

As sinners, saved by grace, we are thankful. When we remember Jesus and all he’s done for us. We cannot help but be thankful. Our gratitude causes us to give – as in the special offering we have today. Or gratitude brings peace to the communion table.

In 53 days or about seven weeks from now we will be celebrating Thanksgiving.  We hope that our dinners will be peaceful. We appreciate thanksgiving celebrations that cause us to become closer to one another. Healthy fellowship can fix all that is broken and keeps us strong enough to make good things happen over and over again.

The Apostle Paul was celebrating a type of Thanksgiving in prison as he suffered, getting into trouble with various politicians for talking about Jesus. This morning’s scripture is a letter from Paul, a father to his spiritual son. In verse 3 Paul says he was grateful, grateful to God, when he prayed for his son in the Lord Timothy. Paul mentions in verse 4 that he saw Timothy’s tears. He does not say why Timothy was crying. What is clear is that while he was praying, he was thankful to God. Prayer does stir up good things like gratitude. Spending time with God can cause us to praise every hour and repent every day. There is a song that says “Every day is a day of thanksgiving.” “God has been so good to me. Everyday he’s blessing me.“  

Paul says he was grateful when he prayed for Timothy, his son in the Lord. We may assume that Timothy was crying because they had to separate and would not see each other for a long time, maybe never. Some thanksgiving gatherings are like that. We shed tears when it is time to go back home.

The violins emerge and we hear in the back of our minds that song - Blessed be the Tie that Binds,

 We share our mutual woes,

Our mutual burdens bear;

And often for each other flows

The sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part,

It gives us inward pain;

But we shall still be joined in heart,

And hope to meet again.

There are no doubt tears at every communion table no matter where communion is being served around the word this morning, there may be tears of joy or tears of sorrow. At the communion table, Christians are bringing burdens as well as blessings. Some of us have hearts that are filled with panic, some overflowing with prayer. We may bring our worries alongside our worship. It is no surprise to find laughter and love at the communion table nor is loneliness a surprise.  From the north, south, west and east in this world, we are welcome at this table just as we are – repentant or sinner, saved or lost.  God knows and God cares for all who come to share a meal with Jesus and his friends.

There is peace at the communion table. Jesus gives us peace of mind. It is not the peace that the world gives. The world makes war and calls it peace. The world tells lies and calls it peace. The world shows hate and calls it peace. “Don’t let your hearts be troubled,” Jesus assures us this morning. “Don’t, be afraid.“

What does Jesus mean? How in this world can we not be troubled as desperate addicts crawling around on our hands and knees in Kensington? Where do we find this peace Jesus has for us when no one can find that red van where I was last seen as a five year old girl named Dulce? What kind of peace does Jesus have for us when there is not enough food to live an active healthy life in this community, country, and this world?  What does peace mean when we are lacking health care and decent housing? When disease demands our money and our mind? 

Holy Communion teaches us that the Peace Jesus gives us is mightier than war, stronger than addiction, and more powerful than crime, corruption, greed, sickness or death. The peace Jesus has for those who come to this table, and any communion table around the world, is greater than any problem or suffering that we will ever bear. 

The faithful who come to this table, know the host. Jesus invites us to come and feast on the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness (generosity), faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  We come eagerly with thanksgiving in our hearts, for we are grateful for the many blessings that have been poured into our lives. Right living brings many blessings. Even in the midst of suffering – whether we ourselves are suffering, or our loved ones or our neighbors near or far, we always have blessings for which to give thanks.  There is always peace at the table when we commune with the one who loves us enough to save us from our ungodliness. 

We dress up and bring our best selves to this table. We celebrate how God has used us to do great things, to bring healing and hope, to care for one another, to minister and do missions using our gifts great and small.

We also bring our mixed up, broken up selves to this table. I heard a wife testify this week on the radio that she asked her husband a question and when he answered she said, “Don’t play dumb with me” which was a common saying in her family when she was growing up. Her husband looked hurt and later asked his wife, “Why did you call me stupid?” He had a learning disability and very rarely felt he was smart enough. She sent him to the store to buy half and half and he came back with fat free half and half and she thought it meant something and he did not even know it was part of the label.

The table is where we bring our best selves as well as the part of ourselves where we most urgently need Jesus. The most important thing is that we come, because in this world, we need peace of mind and the only place we find it is at the table, with Jesus and his friends. Amen.             

September 22, 2019 "Dishonest, But Very Clever"

September 22, 2019 Luke 16.1-13 “Dishonest, But Very Clever” Pastor Jacqueline Hines

Anyone born between 1981 and 1996 would be between the ages of 23 to 38. These folks are called millennials.  I met a millennial this week. Within a few minutes of our conversation, this person shared openly and honestly that they were an abuse survivor. They also shared that their partner was an abuse survivor. As this person shared, haven met me within just a few minutes, I felt pity and sadness and did not know what to say, so I took a risk and extended my hand and they took my hand, as I squeezed their hand, trying to communicate as much care as one stranger might share with another stranger. It was a small gesture, but it seemed special and meaningful.  Speaking one’s honest truth in a caring atmosphere stirs up healing and hope. Truth builds trust. The honest to God truth sets us free.

We all remember Judas Iscariot because he was one of the twelve beloved disciples. Jesus called him a friend. Not everyone gets to be honored by being called a friend. Judas was not a great friend to Jesus because he loved money more than he loved Jesus. He betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Thirty pieces of silver was the price of a slave. Today thirty pieces of silver are said to be worth about $200.  When Judas was finally honest with himself, he realized no amount of money was worth betraying Jesus.

Money is a very seductive God. Many of our temptations are connected to our need for and our love for money. Jesus talks more about money more than any other topic besides the kingdom of God. So it is no surprise that Luke records Jesus telling a parable about a rich man who hired a manager. The manager was causing the business to lose money, so he was fired. But before he left the company, he did some wheeling and dealing with his boss’s money. He did, some schmoozing and cruising in order to make friends to take care of himself as well as to take care of others. He gave discounts and bargains. 

In other words, even though he was a sleazy character, he did one thing wisely. He used money instead of letting money use him. He was in charge of money instead of letting the money be in charge of him. Though he had been dishonest, he learned a lesson in the school of hard knocks and he was wiser for it.

Have you learned anything about your relationship to money? Do you need to change your relationship with money Do you give thanks for what God has given you? Do you ask God’s will for the stewardship of your money? Are you afraid, frivolous or frugal around money? Are you a stingy tightwad or a stealth like the dishonest manager?

There are many twists and turns in this passage, many ways to wonder about what it says as well as what it means. One thought is clear as we seek new disciples. Even worldly people can have valuable insights about many things. Even people who betray Jesus, can be Jesus’ friend.

Luke’s final word from Jesus is we cannot serve God and money at the same time. Some researchers say that there is no such thing as multi-tasking. When we think we are doing two things at once, our brains are really pausing to do one thing at a time, this one, then that one, but never both at once. We think we are multitasking, but our brain knows better.

So today let us surrender our lives as well as our money to a loving and wise God and to no one or nothing else, because even if we think we can get away with anything less, we are just fooling ourselves. Our brain and our heart know better. Amen.  

September 15 2019 "Are You Waiting for Someone to Come Home?"

September 15 2019 Luke 15.1-10 “Are You Waiting for Someone to Come Home?” Pastor Jacqueline Hines

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For most of us most of the time we know home as - home sweet home. God blesses us with homes where we can find comfort and joy more abundantly than any place in the world.  Wherever we are at home is where the heart is. God designs home to sustain us. Home is where we are filled with pleasant memories of laughing together, praying together, singing together, dining together, dancing together, cooking and feasting together, traveling together, playing together, working on issues together and so much more.  Home is where the good days outweigh the bad days.

The evening news most often tells about the bad days that people are living with in homes within all types of neighborhoods. We complain about bad news, but I wonder what we would do if the evening news covered mostly good news. Would we miss the bad news? I decided that the bad news, as bad as it is, inspires us and warns us and challenges us to work at the daily goal of partnering with God to maintain a good home.

When we suffer such things as cycles of poverty, bigotry, promiscuity, hopelessness, despair, or religiosity in our families, whether we act on it or not, we long to break out of the destructive cycle and become free to enjoy prosperity, humanity, chastity, and piety.

From a Christian perspective, a good home has six characteristics according to one Christian Psychologist. A Christian home, number one, has joy, which is different from happiness. Joy is a deep sense of peaceful delight after receiving the love of God in your heart. Joy does not depend on circumstances; it depends on our relationship with God. Second, a Christian home has order rather than confusion. Third, a Christian home is full of grace; it is a safe place to make a mistake.  Fourth, a Christian home is a place of kind deeds and service. Fifth, a Christian home is a place where spiritual disciplines are practiced, like giving, fasting, praying, studying, meditating. Finally, a Christian home affirms that God has a purpose for each member of the family and there are family goals that support Christian values. They are blessed with a shield of faith. 

No matter where we are on the scale, haven grown from exemplifying Christian values terribly or wonderfully, we do well to trust in God.  We do well to depend on God. We do well to keep our eye on God and avoid the temptation to look too long at our blessings or to look too long on our troubles. We do well to keep our eyes on the God who loves us and to whom we can cast every care because God cares for us. If you do not know the love of God, I invite you to look for it until you find it.

It is good to allow the Holy Spirit of a loving God to be a part of our home life. If God is not there guiding and inspiring, then there is only one other source of power that is in our home.

Many years ago, when I was spending an unusually enormous time fasting and praying and seeking God’s will, I felt gently nudged by the Holy Spirit to make sure there was nothing in my apartment that was foul. My attention was drawn to a certain end table that had a little drawer. The nudge was strong enough that I started looking through the drawer. I found a piece of paper with an off-color cartoon, story or joke. I tossed it, knowing that just a little foulness can grow like mold and contaminate our spiritual lives. It mattered even if it was hidden in the drawer.

We want to look like Godly families and signal to others that we are standing on holy ground, a foundation for good works. Even many who would never set foot in a church can appreciate and invest in good works and compassionate deeds. We want to look like good Christians. We want our ministries to shine with the light of God’s love.

We also want to BE good Christians and have the love of Jesus in our hearts.

We know that every home is not equal. This week a report came out that the level of poverty has fallen. That is there are a few more resources in the hands of those who have the lowest income. We thank God for that. The same report indicated that fewer families have health coverage. We pray to God for mercy. The season and reason for prayer never ends.

There is tremendous evidence among us that the Lord has put in our minds and hearts the need to pray and bless families who live in homes where there is lack or suffering. 

We gather food and clothes and money whenever we can. We pray and ponder how we can connect with young people and troubled people and isolated people because we know that all humanity is better together. 

This week I spoke with Ida Parish daughter of Bugsy. She told me inspiring things about his character and influence on the members of Bethel and the community. One of the things she shared was his philosophy of relating to people. He said, “Everybody deserves a decent hello and goodbye.” Acknowledging the presence of others and warmly welcoming them is a blessing. 

Every 40 seconds there is a suicide in this world. That means that any one of us could fall into the abyss of mental illness and despair without a reason to live. When I was in the Air Force, I had a choice of deployments and I chose Georgia. Haven grown up in New England, Georgia was a culture shock for me in the late 80’s. While there, news quietly covered a lynching of an African man. Our trainer openly apologized for racially biased PowerPoints, and if that were not enough, I was traumatized by the threats of a Methodist superior officer who invited me to his office for what I thought was a privileged welcome by a seasoned colleague. It turned out he explained to me the details of what would happen to me if I did not forget about becoming a chaplain in the Air Force – which I think I would have been the first. I was traumatized and cared not whether I lived or died. It took me years to share the agony and pain that was in my heart.

But God’s people loved me when I had no words. A kind couple constantly sat me down and hugged me into the blessed reality that everything was going to be alright, even if I could not say what was wrong. My family surrounded me with warmth and affection. Strangers cared though they knew nothing about me, but they knew God and God used them to make it home from the trauma safe and sound.

Love is a matter of life and death. Perhaps you are waiting for a lost loved one to make it home. Perhaps you are waiting for someone to return home. Perhaps you long for a day of rejoicing as verse 6 reminds us.

 ⁶And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 

There is someone in our family circle or our community circle that is lost, traumatized, victimized, rebellious, stubborn, weak, addicted, or whatever. God is calling us to do our part in making sure that our hearts and our lives are sacred spaces filled with love so that others can find their way back home and be safe and sound. Love is a miracle that can happen only when we depend on God.  Amen.