Rev. Linda B. Hirst

August 11, 2002

Matthew 5:13-14

 A week ago Sunday, 44 youth and 10 adults from this church returned  from a week long mission trip to Lubec, Maine.  Down east.  Which I have learned is a little more complicated than go north to Bangor and take a right.  A week ago Sunday, we poured out of a suburban and five vans pulling two uhauls and a trailer,  tired, dirty,  needing a shower, yet still smiling,  and filled with stories.

 Stories about Lubec, this beautiful town surrounded by water, known for being the eastern most part of the United States,  also known for being the "poorest town in Maine".

 Stories about work camp; sleeping on floors in a kindergarten classroom with 27 of your closest friends, packed side by side, some of us without air mattresses because, well, we just weren’t thinking.  Stories about the showers -  outdoor showers made of 2x4’s and black plastic that were either really, really cold or really, really hot and for some reason we still can’t figure out, the boys got two more showers than the girls did.  A formal complaint has been filed.

 We came back with stories of the people we met; 350 youth and adults from Minnesota, Maryland, Arizona, Iowa, Michigan, Virginia and New Hampshire.  Except for the N.H. folks, most of the other kids had never been to Maine before, had never seen the ocean, had never eaten lobster.   We were the only ones from Maine and we were proud of that.

 We came back with stories of our evening programs, of singing together - 350 strong -  led by Rich on his guitar - singing "It’s my Father’s house.  And Shout to the Lord, Lord I lift your name on high.  Rich was our song leader for the week and just for the record, he was great!  Put him in a gym with a few hundred kids who are dying to sing and he is in his element.  We came back with stories of devotion time and prayer time and play time and how we got to know each other in new and different ways over the week.

 I can tell you that of our adult chaperones, Mike Stephens was our stand-up comedian for the week and if you needed a laugh at any time you knew where to go to find it, Jim Cronin is an incredible carpenter and if he hadn’t taken the time draw me pictures every night of how to frame a floor and walls and doors, my work crew never would have finished our project.  I can tell you that Tom Barton is patient and kind, with a good word for everyone and Mike Lee has big heart for kids and tells a great moose story.

 I can tell you that Muriel Durgin is great fun to be around and a great sport.  Kim Leeman was told by one of the kids in her crew:  You’re the most laid back leader we’ve ever had.  Which is true She's also very funny.

 Kathy McQueeny is full of joy and knows how to organize a mission trip like no other and Debbie Gardner works harder than anyone I know and is incredibly resourceful.   If we needed anything at any time, we went to Debbie.  I can also tell you that all our chaperones love the youth of this church, love your children and they loved being with them.

 About our kids I can tell you that they were incredible - Rich said to them last Saturday, "You shined - all week long".  And they did.  Our graduating seniors led by example, spoke from their heart, worked hard, did what needed to be done, and they will be missed next year.  And several are hoping to be a part of staff for Group’s Work Camp next summer.

 Our juniors were on-the-ball, confident, enthusiastic, and fun, always making sure everyone was included in the group.  Our sophomores were playful and filled with life, always the first ones to organize a game and the last ones in bed at night.

 And our freshmen, the strongest and largest group of freshmen we’ve had on a mission trip -  acted like they’d been doing this all their life,  they rolled out of their sleeping bags each morning with purpose, they went with the flow, worked as hard as anyone, stuck together, and made us all proud.  We can’t wait for next year.

 We brought back stories of the work we did and the residents we served;  you will see a slide show in September that will show you what we did you so much  better than I can tell you with words;  you’ll see pictures of us painting homes, putting on siding,  building porches, decks, wheelchair ramps, tearing off and putting on new roofs, caulking windows and doors, insulating and more.  350 youth and adults worked on 65 homes that week in Lubec and neighboring towns - and  all of that work was good!  Well, most of it anyway.  We had a few problems at my work site but learned during the week that creativity and flexibility are key when you’re not quite sure what you’re doing, and that the notion of square and level when it comes to new construction while really good ideas, are not absolute.  They can be worked around.

 And we brought back stories of the people we worked with; the residents, men and women, young and old, working, not working, some with children and grandchildren and stories of their own.  Some were lonely and needed the company and conversation of our kids as much as they
 needed home repair, some who didn’t know what to make of these teenagers working on their homes and some didn’t want us to leave which made saying good-bye very, very hard.
 

 We brought back stories of how the week changed us; some of us profoundly, some of us mildly, and in others...seeds were planted in rich soil, down the road we will see a harvest.  We can tell of how our faith was challenged, strengthened and nurtured.  Of how we grew as children of God, disciples of Christ, of how we let God’s light shine in Lubec that week.

 Boy, do we have stories.

 "Ignite the Light"  was the theme for our week while in Lubec was.  Our scripture for the entire work camp was from the gospel of Matthew, chapter 5 which was read for you this morning.  You are the light of the world.    Earlier in Matthew’s gospel,  Jesus has just called two fishermen to come and follow him;  Peter and Andrew.  "Follow me, he said, and
I will make you fishers of men, I will make you fish for people."  I will teach you about God’s love and forgiveness and mercy, I will show you how to spread the good news,  you will learn how to bring people closer to God.

 He then went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom - preaching and teaching and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.  Soon, his fame spread, news of what he was doing reached Jersualem, Judea and beyond the Jordan.   One day, with the crowds surrounding him, Jesus went up on a mountain, sat down, with his disciples gathered around him and he began to teach.  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.  And then he told them this...

 "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has los
t it’s taste, it is no longer good for  anything.  You are the light of the world.  A city built on a hill cannot be hid.  No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

 You are the light of the world.

 You are a light, Jesus tells his disciples.   A window, a vessel through which God’s light shines, it is through you - through the things you do, and the things you say, that God’s light can be seen, it is through you that God’s compassion and goodness and love can shine brightly and scatter the darkness.  You are a light.

 Not only are you a light, he tells them.  You’re the light of the world.  You’re a light to the world.  You’re not a light just for yourself,  you’re not a light just for this small group of yours - Peter, John, Thomas and all the rest... what would the point of that be
?  No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket but on the lamp stand so it gives light to all in the house.
 You are a light for the whole world...not just in Galilee, not just in Judea or Jerusalem, but the whole world.     Let your light shine.

 "You are the light of the world", we were told over and over again in Lubec.
It is through you, the folks at the work camp said,  that God’s light shines, it is through you, the things you do and say that Gods light can be seen, it is through you that God’s mercy and love can shine and scatter the darkness.  You are the light, we were told all week long, not just here in Lubec, but to the world.

 And you know what?  We believed them.

 Not because we thought we were that good, because some of us weren’t, but because we saw what happens when you give teenagers a hammer and a paintbrush, a job to do, and a little instruction.  And we saw what happens when a 91 year old man watches a new roof being put on his home by kids, all of them volunteers.  And we saw what happens when a woman whose dying to have someone to talk to, gets to sit down for a while and talk to someone who cares.  And we saw what happens when a woman who never, ever, thought she’d get a new shed, watched as a group of kids tore down her old one and built a bigger, better one top to bottom (or rather from bottom to top.)   She didn’t even care that it was a little crooked.

 We saw what happens when we are a window for God’s love.

 There is light.  The darkness is scattered.  And there is hope.

 You are the light of the world, Jesus tells us.   Each one of you here and especially together as the church, as this church.   There is a lot of darkness out there, a lot of places and people who need hope, who need love, who need comfort, who need light.  And you know where those places are and you know who those people are.   Our mission as disciples of Christ is to use our hands, our feet, our words, whatever gifts and talents God has given us and shine.

 You are the light of the world.

 Let’s pray:  Loving God, creator of the universe, you are the light of the world.  Use us we pray, to be a light wherever light is needed;  to scatter the darkness, to bring hope to those who need it and to receive the light as well.