June 28, 2020 - Fourth Sunday after Pentecost - Whoever Welcomes Me

We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God’s messenger. Accepting someone’s help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I’ve called you into, but don’t be overwhelmed by it. It’s best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won’t lose out on a thing.”

Matthew 10:40-42

Pastor Janelle started her sermon noting how remarkably familiar this Bible passage is for us. She also used Eugene Peterson's The Message translation which is not the one we are accustomed to reading. She liked Peterson's link back to the harvest work of the past two Sunday's Gospels and I agree. These words seem written for our times and makes what Jesus said about the cup of cool water intimately practical.

There are so many excuses not to be a messenger of God, to not give or not accept help. The world we live in is structured in such a way that giving or accepting help is discouraged. There are many excuses society gives us not to help someone and we all want to think we lifted ourselves up by our own boostraps and the way we lived out lives.

So we give ourselves freedom to not do anything. Jesus invites us to open our hearts by giving something as small as a cool cup of water. In that water is something I think this image captures. There is a cross we can recognze.

She then pointed out how Creator literally lived out this Gospel on June 3rd when Creator members offered bottles of cool water to show Creator's support for BLM marchers who started at Clackamas High School and ended at the Happy Valley City Hall. There was an energy that went beyond the snacks and water being provided that both the marchers and members recognized.

Pastor Janell then talked about hospitality as not just a one time event but an ongoing practice.by which the church, according to author Kathleen Norris, either stands or falls. There is no easy action or quick way to shortcut this practice. She also preached that the discipline of true hospitality starts when we feel at home.

Hearing her words I felt the heartache for Creator's pre-pandemic times when we worshiped in the building. Now we are learning how to be hospitable in a new way. And I do see the signs we are doing that but this is the ongoing practice that is going to take time. We have the opportunity to help each other be the people of hope God means us to be. And this is not simply remaining optimistic that everything will turn out alright in the end.

Creator has a book group that is meeting every Wednesday discussing the book Seven Spirtiual Gifts of Waiting. We shared prayers about one of those gifts, that of Living in the Present.  I believe they were filled with the spirit of being people of hope while recognizing how difficult it can be and I would like to end this blog by sharing them here.   

God let your peace dwell in me.

God help me uncover that peace you give me.

God let me reflect that peace to others.

                                               -Anne

Here is my prayer from our meeting last night.  Quoting from the book “We make mental provisions for the days to come, and everything turns out differently, quite differently.”  I wrote, Dear God, help me not to waste the day that’s been given to me.  Letting it unfold the way it is meant to be is better than how I would have scripted it myself.  Debra Hibbs

I just need to repeat this affirmation to myself over and over "All will be well, all will be well" - Chris

Lord, I ask for your peace and calm to sustain me today — just today.

I will seek you again tomorrow.  Until then, live within me.  Amen - Katie Cassatt

Father, I recognize that the worries that plague me take up space that should be filled with loving you, praising you, and being your hands and feet in this world. I pray that you will help me to.........if not relinquish these worries, then to at least turn them over to you so that I can find peace knowing that the burden is being shared and so that space opens up in me to be filled with your light and strength. Guide me to that place of peace and reassurance of trusting that all is part of your plan and all will be well. Amen.             Janet

Dear God, Help me be content in my faith in your compassion and love and that you never break your covenants. Help me understand rather than try to dictate how I think your care should manifest itself in the world.   Gary

Benevolent God, you promise to give me what I need each day. Help me believe that I have everything I need. Guide me each moment of the day. Protect me from getting ahead of myself. Tomorrow will come and today let me see your beauty, know your mercy and be grace-filled toward myself and the world. Amen. Pastor Janell