June 21 ~ "Yet Not One of Them Will Fall to the Ground Outside Your Father's Care." ~ Matthew 10:29

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/3ef8bd_999eea1620fe4c4c99c5378647b2d262/720p/mp4/file.mp4

Jeremiah 20:7-13

Psalm 69:7-18

Romans 6:1b-11

Matthew 10:24-39

Sermon by Bishop Halmarson

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!

Today we mark a trifecta of special occasions in our worship.

Father’s Day is a special day to honor and appreciate fathers and father figures. It’s a time to express gratitude for the men who offer love, guidance, and care for children. Father figures can include biological fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, fathers-in-law, guardians (such as foster parents), male relatives, and family friends who play an important role in a child’s life.

National Indigenous Peoples Day takes place today on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. For generations, many First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities have celebrated their cultures, languages, and traditions at this time of year. The summer solstice holds deep spiritual and cultural significance for many Indigenous Peoples, marking a time of renewal, connection, and celebration. Since 1971 the ELCIC’s full communion partner, the Anglican Church in Canada has set June 21 as a National Indigenous Day of Prayer, a day to honor the cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples while also serving as a time to pray for healing, reconciliation, and right relationships. Today’s Prayer of the Day comes from Anglican church resources developed to mark this National Indigenous Day of Prayer.

World Refugee Day, marked yesterday, is an opportunity for us to pause in our daily life and honour displaced people around the world. It’s a time to celebrate their strength, courage and resilience and also to build understanding and empathy for the challenges they face every day. The ELCIC has deep roots in migrant and refugee settlement beginning from the earliest migration of Scandinavian and German people to Canada, bringing their Lutheran faith and practice with them. Since the 1950’s Lutheran churches through Canadian Lutheran World Relief have engaged with global partners to assist people displaced by conflict and war to find a new home in Canada. Today the reasons for displacement are more diverse – conflict, persecution, climate degradation and violence are all reasons people flee their homes for a safer place to live – and today we pray for renewed efforts to end the reasons for displacement while we offer hope to those who seek a new home.

Our sermon today comes from the ELCIC Summer Sermon Series prepared by national and synod staff for congregational use. Today’s sermon was prepared by Rev. Paul Gehrs, Assistant to the National Bishop, and is based on the Gospel reading from Matthew. Here is Paul’s sermon, in his own words beginning with a Land Acknowledgement:

- - - - -

"The ELCIC acknowledges that its buildings and ministries, from coast to coast to coast, are on traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples. I am speaking to you from the Winnipeg national office in Treaty One Territory and the Homeland of the Metis Nation. I am deeply grateful for the Indigenous elders, leaders and Peoples who are stewards of land, water and wisdom. The ongoing work of truth, healing, reconciliation and decolonization helps our society, our church, our communities and my own family to address all the challenges we face.

My name is Paul Gehrs. My pronouns are he/him. I serve as Assistant to the Bishop for Justice and Ecumenical and Interfaith relations with the ELCIC National Office.

Thank you for the invitation to offer this sermon today – along with the opportunity to honour June 21 as National Indigenous Peoples Day and to honour June 20 as World Refugee Day. These observances are invitations to pray, listen, hear stories, learn history, honour people and celebrate identities. They are calls to be anti-racist. They are reminders to act for justice every day.

When I was in junior high school on a church youth retreat, I volunteered to help create a skit about Daniel in the lion’s den. In the rehearsal, starring as Daniel and using my best and limited improv skills, I knelt down and prayed: “Dear God, I am very scared right now – surrounded by lions and all. But I know that you can help me and protect me.”

And the youth leader serving as director said, “NO. Daniel was never scared because he believed in God.”

It was an unnecessary stifling of imagination and a dubious theological conclusion.

In this mild confrontation, I experienced my usual pattern… withdrawal, guilt (it must be my fault there is a conflict), righteous indignation (I’m right and everyone else is wrong) and stewing about what I should try to say. For me, some of the big emotions, such as fear and anger, can be difficult.

What I did not manage to say to the director that day is that seeing biblical characters as human is an important step in theology. Imagining that Daniel is scared and faithful is a legitimate encounter with scripture. In my experience, the path to courage is most often through my fear and beyond my worries – rarely does God take away all the tough emotions before the journey starts. Imagination is a gift; and leadership is not at its best when it stifles imagination or shuts down voices.

Today, we hear Jesus say, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword…” Uh-oh, sounds like conflict. I sense the same feelings churning inside: withdrawal, guilt, self-righteous anger and stewing.

Why is the Prince of Peace talking about swords? Here is how I make sense of it.

In grace and love, God bestows dignity on each person, values every part of creation, and honours each being. In baptism, we are called to be disciples of Jesus. This calling includes supporting each one in becoming the person God calls them to be. This calling includes working for justice, healing, liberation and peace.

I want to be a good disciple, but it is not always easy.

Action for grace and dignity can get you in trouble. As God moves the world toward justice, we don’t all make the transformation at the same time. Those who benefit from oppression may be upset about the move to freedom. Doing the right thing may divide communities, families and households. You may even find yourself at odds with the very people who nurtured you, formed you and taught you.

This is one reason that Jesus says, “I have come to bring a sword.”

On May 21, the Governing Board of the Canadian Council of Churches visited the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation where the staff led us through a reflection exercise using the images of “Rose, Bud, Thorn.” Gathered for conversation in small groups, the idea is this:

Roses are the things where progress has been made on the work of reconciliation. Places where actions have born fruit and generated beauty.

Buds are opportunities. Situations where things have not yet bloomed but they are ready and inviting further action.

Thorns are things that block progress. We all know they exist. The thorny blocks happen inside me and in small communities and at the systemic level. Sometimes we are slow to name those thorns and speaking the truth can help discern other buds.

By way of example:

With regard to reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, I could say that:

A couple of Roses are faith communities acknowledging Indigenous territory, and, school curriculums improving how Canadian history is taught.

Some Buds are continuing to learn from Indigenous elders how to respect and care for land and water, and, building on existing relationships in my life.

Thorns are laws, policies and projects that fail to respect the Indigenous Right to Free, Prior and Informed consent.

With regard to refugee rights:

Roses are Canadian Lutheran World Relief’s (CLWR’s) long history of care for refugees internationally and the work of congregations to sponsor refugees who come to Canada.

A Bud is that CLWR has recently hired Jennifer Ardon to serve in the new role of Public Witness & Mobilization Lead - Church Relations. Jennifer will be working with Lutherans to provide opportunities for learning and advocacy. A World Refugee Day toolkit has been posted on the CLWR website, and these engagement possibilities will be relevant long after this weekend.

A Thorn is how some public leaders are trying to blame refugees and immigrants for some of Canada’s social problems such has housing and healthcare. This is inaccurate analysis and is a cloaked way of endorsing racism. We need leaders with imagination to address the issues of refugee rights and housing and healthcare.

One additional learning from my recent visit to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is that there is no finish line for the work of reconciliation. The work of truth, liberation, healing and reconciliation is an ongoing process of building relationships and restoring relationships.

Similarly, I could say that there is no finish line on the journey of discipleship. It is ongoing work of forming and healing relationships. The way is long and the burdens of world are legion. Jesus reminds us that swords will be part of the journey because speaking truth and acting for justice generate conflict. And Jesus promises to be with us in that conflict. Jesus blesses us with companions on the journey, and each one can carry part of the burden.

In response to the resurrection, the first disciples were full of fear and locked themselves behind closed doors. Jesus got through those locked doors and joined them and sent them. The Holy Spirit got through those locked doors with wind and fire – sending the disciples into the streets – full of passion and communicating in diverse languages.

Today and every day, we know that the Holy Spirit is going to move the church forward.

You are a gift to the world and for the world. The community needs your voice. The church needs your imagination. Creation needs your gentleness and wisdom. Those who are hurting need your care. Those who hunger and thirst for justice need your courage.

The invitation to follow Jesus has big metaphors:

Carry a cross. Lose your life. Discover the swords.

When I feel scared, overwhelmed, worried or discouraged, I remember this:

The Holy Spirit finds us, carries us, moves us, strengthens us and transforms us.

Jesus is our teacher and model for living out God’s grace and unconditional love.

And, a disciple is not above the teacher…it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher…"

- - - - -

Paul Gehrs leaves us with a call to action, a promise of support and the means to endure the challenges we will certainly face in our discipleship. May God give us all we need to help make the world a more just and equitable place, and may we know the immeasurable peace of living in the eternal love and grace of God.

Amen

June 14 ~ "Affliction produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope." ~ romans 5:3-4

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/3ef8bd_c3574635211e4078b5d94d7853cbbc60/720p/mp4/file.mp4

Exodus 19:2-8a

Psalm 100

Romans 5:1-8

Matthew 9:35--10:23

Sermon by Pastor Joel

This morning, we hear two different messages about God’s call to serve others: one that speaks of happiness, the other of hardship. But they are not incompatible. Happiness can be found in the midst of hardship. Indeed, when the hardship that comes from following the gospel is meaningful, generous, and shared with our neighbor, it can be the truest path to happiness. 

The gospel this morning represents a hinge point, as our current Prime Minister likes to say, in the ministry of Jesus. Having demonstrated to the disciples what it means to follow the gospel – to teach and to heal and to embrace the stranger -- Jesus is now bestowing that same calling on the disciples themselves. And through them, on each one of us. 

Yet we find ourselves today on both sides – on both the crowd – harassed and helpless – and on the disciple, empowered as sheep to go bravely among the wolves. The people who heard the teachings of Jesus were facing financial strains, political domination, and corrupt leadership, more ready to fill their own pockets with public funds than to distribute them to those in need. 

The gospel describes the people as “sheep without a shepherd” – adrift in a difficult world, searching for leaders they can respect and who will do what is right, fight for justice, and make the world better, more equal, and kinder. 

We hear this stark warning from Jesus about the persecution that the disciples will face in this world, about families being set at odds against one another – and Jesus could be speaking to our own time. 

People today who speak out against tyranny are being persecuted – in person and on social media. Ideological divides in families are causing estrangement. Polarization is ending friendships. Civil dialogue across divides is declining – making people more and more hesitant to attempt that civil dialogue in the first place. 

And yet, Jesus reminds us that we must. We must go out into the world and greet those who disagree with us, break bread with them, discuss the world with them. 

And this mission we are on must not be pursued for our own personal gain. Indeed, this edict from Jesus to “Take no gold, no bag, no second tunic” suggests that the disciples are to rely on the hospitality of others. 

They cannot be seen collecting their own wealth – for that would make them no better than the corrupt leaders. That would make them wolves among the people. And secondly, when the strangers they meet offer that hospitality, they are no longer strangers. 

The disciples are given very clear directions. We are given very clear directions. We are to have conviction tempered with mercy. We are to endure hostility without becoming hostile. To speak our truth with humility and gentleness. To be courageous with our openness and our compassion. 

A tall challenge indeed. And yet, in our Psalm, we are reminded how to accomplish this, and most importantly, how to sustain it. 

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, |all you lands!” the psalmist writes.  “See the Lord with gladness; come into God’s presence with a song.” 

This might seem impossible – given the path that Jesus laid out for the disciples - one of suffering and persecution. And yet, what else did he describe? A life of value, an opportunity to build community, a chance to make a difference. 

For what most erodes our happiness is feeling lonely and helpless. These feelings fuel our anxiety. Paralyze our ability to act. Keep us home when we should be knocking on our neighbor’s door. 

Modern society and social media tell us over and over again that joy is found in what we own, in the titles we hold, in how far up we rise. But this message requires us, by definition, to step over our neighbors rather than to walk beside them. 

And yet, science has caught up with the gospel. What we do as individuals to foster the practice of happiness and insight – writing in a gratitude journal or praying to God reminds us of what we already have. Meditating or sitting under a beautiful tree feeds our souls. 

But the fuel for happiness is people and the meaningful actions we take on their behalf. What builds happiness is connection – to people, to the natural world. What sustains happiness is working to make a difference, even if it is one small moment at a time. 

We should not sit with the message from Jesus in the gospel, without hearing the encouragement of the psalmist. Let us not go forth dour and disheartened, ready to flinch and turn away. Rather, let us be joyful in our actions and choices. Let us choose optimism. 

For what lies within joy but hope. The hope that what we do matters. The hope that our family will one day come back together. The hope that friends will forgive. The hope that together, we will reach a hinge point, and the world will be changed. 

There is another message, hidden in our readings this morning.

In our gospel, Jesus advises the disciples to steer away from the “gentiles” and to avoid the “Samaritan towns”.  In modern times, this particular section of the gospel has been employed to demonize those who disagree, to suggest that only some merit the gospel. But is this what Jesus could  possibly have meant? The very same Jesus who honored the Good Samaritan so highly that the phrase Good Samaritan now stands for the gospel itself? 

Of course not. But Jesus was pragmatic, just as we must be. He was advising the disciples to begin where they will be most welcomed, where even people who doubt their message might be willing peacefully to listen. 

Begin in more comfortable spaces, he was saying, and build your strength and expertise. Gather a community around you for support. He was reminding the disciples that they do not have to spread kindness and hope and healing on their own. That we do not have to do this on our own.

Community lies at the heart of both our gospel and our Psalm this morning. Every door that was opened to the disciples on their dusty road – on our own dusty roads – makes our community larger, our social connection greater. 

And what better way to bring people together than with song, as the Psalmist writes. 

A soloist is beautiful and brave, singing alone. But a choir of people singing in harmony, raising their united voices to the sky? Now that is something that really shakes the rafters.

Amen

June 7 ~ "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" ~ Matthew 9:11

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/3ef8bd_0e2bafaf74134435830be60a1c62aa1a/720p/mp4/file.mp4

Hosea 5:15—6:6

Psalm 50:7-15

Romans 4:13-25

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Sermon by Pastor Joel

God beckons us in the most unusual and exciting ways. Slow to anger and always creative, God challenges us to pay attention to the small things and follow Christ. Whenever God calls us to serve, we are transformed by an experience that strengthens our faith and conviction in the love of Christ. It is in these times that we clearly see what Christ calls us to do: love unconditionally. For what does Jesus tell us in our gospel this very morning: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.”

Compared to sacrifice, you’d think that mercy would be an easier action for humanity. For what is mercy but acceptance, forgiveness, kindness, understanding – all the things that each of us desires in our own lives. We know a merciful society is the best society and so we create constitutions and charters and treaties designed to be merciful - and then we go about eroding and breaking them. Even knowing better, we are afflicted with what I might consider the worst of human flaws: judgement. How many groups have suffered under that oppressive judgement of society? How many were sacrificed by the unmerciful? 

The list is so long. You will all name your own – groups, individuals, perhaps people you sought out to protect yourselves. In the case of Canada, I will point to two. You may not be surprised to know that some of the most open and accepted racism in this country is directed at our Indigenous brothers and sisters. How quickly we forget that the last residential school closed only in 1996 – a mere three decades ago. Canada sought to erase a culture, caused irreparable harm to generations and yet, even today, when Indigenous Canadians insist on being heard, they are shut down. They sacrificed so much, and yet in so many ways, we have failed to show mercy. 

June is Pride month, another time to recognize our failure to show mercy. Instead, in our own lifetimes, the LGBTQ community has been imprisoned, committed to mental hospitals, castrated, shunned, denied basic rights such as justice and health care, denied the right to stand before this very altar and vow before God to love the person dearest to them. Was that the mercy that Jesus, who welcomed everyone, desired of us? 

In our gospel, Jesus beckoned Matthew to follow him and become a student of life and love. By society's standards, Matthew was not the best example of a faithful servant. His background as a tax collector, zealot, and a man prepared to engage in violence with anyone who disagreed with him made him a risky choice. But Mathew was passionate about life. He was open and willing to see the world – and the people in it – with generosity and openness. 

Hosea was available to God late in life and had a choice of whether to serve God or not. To an unbelieving, undoubtedly judgemental crowd, he preached about grace and love, about becoming faithful instruments of peace, about replacing old ways with better ones.  Hearing that message, our responsibility is to turn around to God and say, "Here I am. Send me!" 

God's promises can be fulfilled only through faith. In Romans 4:13, God's promise to Abraham is fulfilled because of Abraham's faithfulness. Through faithfulness Abraham received and accepted God's grace. God's grace is not earned. Our faith provides a vision for a church without boundaries, an altar and font where people of every class, ethnicity, sexual orientation and any other category we invent for humanity, gather to worship God in love and peace. Through our faith, we receive God's grace to build communities and societies that embrace the best of our traditions and adapt them to a progressive, merciful world. Through our faith, which is dynamic, we receive God’s grace to build a world that does not exclude. 

In today's climate of fear and frustration, it is not easy to be available to the love of God. It is our choice to be available to build a community as a place of refuge for all people. James 2:14 (RSV) teaches us that "faith without works is nothing"; Hebrews 11:1 (RSV) teaches that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen." With faith we can build a new church that meets the needs of all. With faith we can knit and bind together a nation in love and trust, seeking Christ in each person we meet. And treating that person as though they were Christ. 

Like Mathew, we can choose to follow Christ. Like Hosea, we can choose to deliver the message. Like Abraham, we can live into the promise of God in faith. But it is by God's Grace that we are forgiven, strengthened, rejuvenated, and transformed in the love of Christ. Each day we make decisions about our lives.  Some are consciousness- or process-oriented, while others are spontaneous, requiring very little thought. Yet, we always have a choice to follow Christ, live a life of love, and embrace those who are perceived as unlovable. We decide whether to show the mercy that Jesus desires. 

St. Francis of Assisi wrote a prayer about being an instrument for God. St. Francis asked us to consciously consider being God's instrument of peace, to understand rather than seek to be understood, and to love rather than be loved. God does not ask us to be perfect, just available in spirit and truth, and to proclaim the message of love. In a world that is so often judgmental and harsh, let us be the people who speak with love and challenge those who use words of hate, Let us choose, as Jesus asks, to be kind and accepting, not only in private, but by proudly and publicly walking with those burdened by the world’s judgement. Let us, above all else, be people of mercy. As Jesus understood, a single act of mercy can be the beginning of great change. And it is within our power – each one of us – to grant it.  

Amen