Rev. Linda B. Hirst

September 8, 2002

Matthew 18:15-20

 Many of you woke up this morning, had a leisurely breakfast, read the paper, maybe went for a walk, got dressed, looked at your watch and said, "Oh, look it’s time for church," got into your car, found a parking space near by, came into church, found a seat, found your seat in your pew, sat down and even had a few minutes to meditate, to pray while listening to the prelude.   For about half of you, that is what Sundays are like.  This the way Sundays should be.

 The other half, either woke up to the sounds of children screaming or woke up screaming at their children, "Get up!  We’re late for church!"  You had no breakfast, or maybe you had the rest of your child’s bagel while running out the door.  You were so concerned with getting your child or children dressed that you’re hoping you have on the same colored socks if not the same color shoes.  You parked across the street or somewhere in the cemetery, ran up those stairs in heels, out of breath, a child or two in tow - you missed the prelude by that much, grabbed a seat, any seat, sat down, got your children settled, took a deep breath and said the prayer uttered by parents everywhere: "Dear God.  Help."  Welcome everyone!

 Today is Rally Day, today is when we gather back into two services those who have been on vacation, who have been away.  Our children who have been in a combined church school all summer begin their new church school classes.  After having wonderful soloists all summer, the sanctuary choir is back in full force - it is a big day.

 We have gathered this morning - you and I - some of us quite leisurely and very relaxed, some of us on the run and bone tired - to worship God.  We have come to church because we know, we believe the words that Jesus said, "where two or three are gathered in his name, I am there among you."  Jesus is here.  God is here.  The Holy Spirit is here.  And we need Jesus and God and the Holy Spirit.

 So we gather.  Around the world people gather, some by twos and threes, some by the two and three hundreds and some by the thousands.  And God is present with us all, wherever our church happens to be.

 I want to share with you this morning some thoughts about church, some thoughts about why people go to church,  what are some of the things we’re looking for, what are some of the things we find.   Why, if  you’re visiting here for the first time, you should come back.   And why, If you’re having coffee with a neighbor or a friend some time you should to say to them ,  "You know, I think you ought to come to church with me some day."
 Henri Nouwen, who was a wonderful writer and author of many devotional books says of the church:  The church is the people of God.  The Latin word for church, ecclesia comes from the Greek "ek" which means "out" and kaleo which means "to call".  The Church is the people of God called out of slavery to freedom, sin to salvation, despair to hope, darkness to light, an existence centered on death to an existence focused on life.  When we think of the Church, he writes, we have to think of people traveling together.  We have to envision women, men, and children of all ages, races and societies supporting one another on their long   journeys to their final home.

 Tony Campolo, pastor, teacher and an extraordinary, says the task of the church is to spread God’s word.  He tells a story that describes Jesus returning to heaven after being here on earth.  The angels gathered around him to find out about all the things that happened on earth.  Jesus explained to the angels how he livd among the people, shared his teachings, showed his love, died on the cross for their sins and was resurrected to declare that the new Kingdom was at hand.

 When he finished telling his story,  Michael, the archangel asked him, "Well, what happens now?"  And Jesus answered, "I left behind a handful of faithful men and women.  They will tell the story!  They will show the love!  They will spread the Kingdom!"  "But what if they fail?" asked Michael.  "What will be the plan then?"

 And Jesus answered, "There is no other plan!"  It is our responsibility, Tony says,  to be the instruments for the propagation - the furthering - of God’s truth.  That is the task of the church.

 I’m a big fan of the church, of the church as an organization, an institution, the body of Christ, yet I know there are plenty who disagree.  There are many who see the church as a place of contradiction.  My brother-in-law tells of a time he went to church in his home town and the pastor preached a wonderful sermon on loving your neighbor and everyone shook their heads in agreement with the message until they got to the parking lot then it was every man and women for himself.  Angry words was be exchanged, sign language was used.  I just don’t get it, he says,  that’s not my idea of the church.

 Others don’t like the church because it’s full of sinners, people who make mistakes, people like you and me..  Others think it’s boring and still others say they don’t go to church because they just don’t like organized religion.  To which  I heard one pastor respond,  "they should try my church.  We’re as disorganized as they get."

There are all kinds of reasons not to like, not to believe in the church and yet,   millions of people continue to gather by twos and threes, by the hundreds and by the thousands in his name and this is why.

 We come to hear a Word, a word that is different from all the other words we hear all week,  we know what society says, what the president says, what our work and our school say, we want to know what God says.   So we come, to hear a Word about hope and love and grace and forgiveness, a word about resurrection and new life, we come to hear a Word that will give our lives meaning.

 And we come because we want to be with others who are listening for that same Word,  we come looking for a community to belong to, people with whom we can share our stories and our faith, fellow travelers on the road.  We come because we know this road called life is a little bit easier and certainly more interesting when we travel together.

 Some of us come to be inspired and encouraged, to be challenged, some of us to be changed, some to serve, and some come for an hour - just one hour of peace and quiet in the midst of their busy, crazy lives

 We come to be comforted - to lift up in prayer those things we barely have words for - we come knowing we can turn to God and one another with our needs and our cares and we will find a shoulder to lean on, a hug when we need it,  prayers both spoken and silent.   We come when it’s dark looking for light, we come when we’re broken looking to be made whole.

  And sometimes we come because it’s the only place to go.  This was certainly the case for many people last September 11th.  We gathered here in shock and sadness.  We read and prayed, we held hands with strangers, we wept together, we heard God’s word that even though at that moment it didn’t feel like it, we can be assured that evil will not win,  and the light that is Christ is still shining.

 We come because there is something more to life than just us and we want to recognize and celebrate this truth.

 Anne LaMott, talks about this in her book, Traveling Mercies, some thoughts on faith:  Anne and her young son, Sam, attend an inner city presbyterian church in Marin City, CA.  And she has a whole chapter entitled "Why I Make Sam Go to Church".

 She has some pretty good reasons:  She writes:  Sam is the only kid he knows who goes to church - who is made to go to church two or three times a month.  He rarely wants to.  This is not exactly true:  the truth is he never wants to go.
 

 What young boy would rather be in church on he weekends than hanging out with a friend? It does not help him to be reminded that once he’s there he enjoys himself, that he gets to spend the time drawing in the little room outside the  sanctuary, that he only actually has to sit still and listen during the short children's sermon.  It does not help that I always pack some snacks, some legos, his art supplies and bring along any friend of his whom we can lure into our churchy web.  It does not help that he genuinely cares for the people there.  All that matters to him is that he alone among his colleagues is forced to spend Sunday morning in church.

 You might think, noting the  bitterness, the resignation, that he was being made to sit through a six hour Latin mass.  or you might wonder why I make this strapping, exuberant  boy come with me most weeks and if you were to ask, this is what I would say.

 I  make him because I can.  I outweigh him by nearly seventy five pounds.  But that is only part of it.  The main reason is that I want to give him what I found in the world, which is to say a path and a little light to see by.  Most of the people I know who have what I want - which is to say, purpose, heart, balance, gratitude, joy - are people with a deep sense of spirituality.  They are people in community. who pray, or practice their faith;  they are Buddhists, Jews, Christians, people banding together to work on themselves and for others.  They follow a brighter light than the glimmer of their own candle;  they are part of something beautiful.

  I saw something once that said,  "A human life is like a single letter of the alphabet.  It can be meaningless.  Or it can be a part of a great meaning."  Our little church is filled with people who are working for peace and freedom, who are out here on the streets and inside praying, and they are home writing letters and they are at the shelters with giant platters of food.

 When I was at the end of my rope, the people at St. Andrew tied a knot in it for me and helped me hold on.  The church became my home in the old meaning of home - that it’s where, when you show up, they have to let you in.  They let me in.

 There are a lot of reasons to come to church; some are noble and profound. some are note...when I was a child I came because my parents made me, when I was a teenager I came because there were a couple of cute guys in my youth group and if I timed it just right I might sit near one of them in the balcony, when I was in my 20’s I came because I had been coming so long it was just what I did - and while the service didn’t always wow me,  the coffee hour did - I loved the meeting, the greeting that happened at church - the people there were my family, the church was my home.  They let me in.  Now I come, because there is no other place I’d rather be and no other people with whom I’d rather be and when I do come, when we gather in his name, I know Jesus is here, God is here and the Holy Spirit, and I need all three.

 It doesn’t always matter why we come, what’s matters is that we come - and God will take care of the rest.  So come and seek, come and find, come and grow and learn and serve.  Come and give thanks.  Come and worship God.   Come and gather in his name.   Amen.