Welcoming the Stranger

Leviticus 19: 33-34 & Matthew 25:34-45

Roger Lynn

June 24, 2018

(click here for the audio of this sermon)
(click here for the video of this sermon)

When I left for Conference Annual Meeting ten days ago, the bulletin for today was ready to go to press, and I knew what I was going to be preaching this morning. But then I arrived at Conference Annual Meeting and that pesky and unsettling Holy Spirit showed up and did what the Spirit often does – unsettle our plans. And so it was that when I arrived back in Helena on Sunday afternoon I didn’t go home and take a nap (which is what I really wanted to do). Instead I came to the church and developed a new worship experience for this morning, and a new sermon. And I thought that it was more or less settled. But over the course of this past week even more developments unfolded. And so it was that when I arrived back in Helena yesterday afternoon, after spending this last week in Santa Fe, this sermon received even more modifications. Following the path of Spirit is seldom straight and linear. 

The truth is that this issue has been nagging at me for several weeks, but it wasn’t until the Rev. Bill Lyons (Conference Minister, Southwest Conference United Church of Christ) stood up at our Conference Annual Meeting and read what I am about to share with you that I was suddenly struck with the notion (a not so gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit?) that I needed to re-think what today’s worship experience should look like.

My friend Tracy was telling about a bar in Columbus that has a message written on the big mirror behind the bar that reads, “Strangers Welcome!” She said it occurred to her that a bar shouldn’t be the only place where such a message is proclaimed.

The Cost of Compassion

Luke 8: 26-39

Roger Lynn

June 10, 2018

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(there was technical difficulties with the video this week)

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” “Do unto others...” “The Parable of the Good Samaritan” “The healing of the blind man.” Over and over again, by his words, by his actions, by his life, Jesus makes it powerfully clear that compassion is at the heart of what it means to live a faithful life. Following God is synonymous with actively caring for those around us. And most of us would be hard pressed to disagree – at least in principle. Of course we want to take care of each other. Of course we want to make sure that life is full and rich and meaningful for everyone.

What we don’t always think about is the cost of such compassion. Sometimes the cost is obvious. Sometimes it is subtle. But there is almost always a price tag somewhere in the mix. I would argue that it is always a price worth paying. The results of compassion are more wholeness, more connection, more life. But if we don’t talk about the cost, if we just pretend that there are no choices to be made, then when we find ourselves face to face with some of those choices we won’t be prepared to choose wisely.

Peculiar Treasures

Colossians 4: 7-17

Roger Lynn

June 3, 2018

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(click here for the video for this sermon)

What does it mean to be the Church? What does it mean to be a person of faith? The apostle Paul attempts to answer such questions in his letter to the church at Colossai. He starts off the letter dealing with theology and the nature of Christ. Then he moves on to the moral imperatives for faithful living. And then, as he approaches the end of the letter, he finally gets to the heart of the matter. In a word, he is describing community – unique individuals bound together by the love of God and working towards the common goal of sharing that love with the world.

This is no ordinary thing that Paul describes. It crosses borders, knocks down walls, bridges chasms that divide. This community transforms the lives of those involved, and it reaches out beyond itself to transform the world.  And it does all of this is an understated way that is easy to miss if you aren’t looking closely. What we find in the closing words of this letter are some peculiar names – Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Epaphras, Nympha, Archipus. They are peculiar to us, because they are unfamiliar. But they were very familiar to Paul and to those in the church at Colossai. They were particular individuals with particular gifts and a particular place in the hearts and minds of those who knew them. You know these people, Paul is saying. In mentioning their names he is reminding everyone of the ways they are bound together in community. And what a powerful community it is. Just the names tell us so much. There are some names that we recognize from the larger context of the early church – Barnabas, Mark, Luke. And there are some names that we only hear mentioned in this one place – Tychicus, Nympha, Archipus. There are Jews and non-Jews mentioned. There are women and men mentioned. There are rich people and there are slaves mentioned. And all of them, together, have a role to play in making that community what it was. Each is a treasure – a peculiar treasure – that together makes the Body of Christ (God’s presence) manifest in the world.